LIVE: Parliament Debates Deshabandu Tennakoon’s Removal

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Parliament is debating a motion calling for the removal of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon from office.

The motion, backed by 115 Members of Parliament, was submitted to the Speaker on March 25 under the provisions of the Removal of Public Officers (Procedure) Act No. 5 of 2002. A vote on the motion is scheduled for this afternoon (5).

The motion follows the findings of a special committee appointed to investigate allegations of serious misconduct against Tennakoon.

After a thorough inquiry, the committee unanimously concluded that Tennakoon was culpable of the charges raised in the motion.

These include 27 allegations ranging from abuse of power and corruption to dereliction of duty and political bias.

Following the committee’s final report, the Speaker moved to table the motion in Parliament.

According to the law, if a majority of all Members of Parliament—including those absent—vote in favor, the President is constitutionally required to remove the individual from office without delay.