July 26, Colombo (LNW): Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has stated that the President currently has no legal authority to appoint an Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Speaking in Parliament, he also clarified that the position of the IGP is not vacant.
He emphasised that the court cannot overturn the Constitutional Council’s approval of the current IGP’s appointment.
“We remind the Speaker and Parliament that the Supreme Court’s order suspending the IGP’s duties should be nullified. We urge the Speaker to intervene promptly in this matter,” he declared.
This follows the Supreme Court’s interim order on Wednesday preventing Deshabandu Tennakoon from performing his duties as IGP.
The order came after nine petitions, including one from Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, challenged Tennakoon’s appointment.
The court also directed the President to appoint a suitable interim IGP during this suspension period.
