Top Court to Scrutinize Constitutionality of Acting IGP

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka ordered to schedule the petitions that was filed challenging the appointment of Deshabandu Thennakoon to the post of Acting Inspector General of Police, to the 27th of February for consideration.

The applications seek an interim order restraining Thennakoon from accepting the post of IGP and was taken up in the presence of a three-judge bench comprising Justices S. Thurairaja, Gaminia Amarasekera, and Mahinda Samayawardena.

The bench advised that all objections over the applications, if any, must be filed with the Supreme Court before the 22nd of February.

The petitions, filed by various parties including Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, argue that Tennakoon's appointment violates fundamental rights guaranteed by the Sri Lankan Constitution. 

President's Counsel Saliya Peiris, Shamil Perera, and Upul Kumarapperuma represented the petitioners, while President's Counsel Romesh De Silva appeared for Thennakoon.

Deshabandu Thennakoon, the Attorney General, and the Constitutional Council led by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeygunawardena were named as respondents in the petitions.

In a separate development, the Court also took up another petition challenging Tennakoon's appointment, filed by Former Parliamentarian Mujibur Rahuman.

The application was taken up in the presence of Justices Priyantha Jayawardena, A. H. M. D. Nawaz, and Shiran Gunaratne.

The bench scheduled a hearing for February 7th.