Race for new IGP begins

Despite Lalith Pathinayake's standing as the most senior officer eligible for the role, Priyantha Weerasuriya's long stint as Acting IGP could give him a significant edge in the appointment process

- By DARSHANA SANJEEWA BALASURIYA

With Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon facing With General of police badutenakon fauce of power by a three-member Committee of Inquiry chaired by Supreme Court Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is set to nominate one or more candidates to the Constitutional Council (CC) for the appointment of the 37th IGP of the Sri Lanka Police, the Daily Mirror learns.

The new IGP will take office at a time when the country is witnessing a troubling surge in crime and underworld activity. In the first six months of this year alone, over 60 shooting incidents have been reported, resulting in more than 45 deaths. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has previously said that all necessary measures will be taken to eliminate underworld operations, although he acknowledged the process will take time.

The three-member Committee of Inquiry, which concluded that Tennakoon was guilty of gross abuse of power, submitted their findings to the Speaker of Parliament. The committee held Tennakoon responsible for the 2022 W-15 Hotel shooting incident in Weligama, which resulted in the death of a police officer.