March 19, Colombo (LNW): Former MP Hirunika Premachandra has lodged a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition with the Supreme Court, seeking an injunction to prevent Deshabandu Tennakoon from assuming the role of Inspector General of Police (IGP).
In her petition, Premachandra listed Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, Constitutional Council Chairman Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Constitutional Council members, and the Attorney General as respondents.
The petition highlights that the Attorney General implicated Tennakoon as a suspect in a case concerning the assault on peaceful demonstrators at Galle Face on May 9, 2022.
Additionally, it references a prior Supreme Court ruling (SC FR 107/2011) where Tennakoon was found to have violated the fundamental rights of a former army soldier and was ordered to pay compensation of Rs. 500,000.
Premachandra argues that the appointment of Tennakoon undermines the interests of the public and violates the duty of state organs to uphold fundamental rights.
She contends that this appointment threatens the Rule of Law and contravenes Article 12(1) of the Constitution, as well as Article 41(E)4 regarding the Constitutional Council’s voting procedure.
The petition was filed by Attorney-at-Law Sithara Sampath Wijewardena on behalf of the former MP.
