His Eminance Malcolm Ranjith Cardinal has informed the Constituent Assembly in writing not to consider the names of Senior Deputy Inspectors of Police Deshbandu Tennakoon or Nilantha Jayawardena for the vacant post of Inspector General. Sri Lanka Latest News
The Chairman of the Constituent Assembly is the Speaker.
To select one person as the next Inspector General of Police, the names of three suitable persons are to be submitted by the President to the Constituent Assembly today.
The media had reported that among the names to be presented today, the names of senior Deputy Inspector General of Police, Nilantha Jayawardene and Deshbandu Tennakoon are also there.
His eminence Cardinal Ranjith says that none of them are suitable for the post of Inspector General of Police.
Cardinal says that the main reason is that both of them have been charged with the Easter attack.
Citing the report of the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to investigate the Easter attack, the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry, and the judgment given by the Supreme Court, Cardinal Therapano has provided facts to confirm Nilantha Jayawardene’s unfitness.
Cardinal Thero also recalls that the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry has recommended that a disciplinary inquiry should be conducted against Senior DIG Deshbandu Thenkorn regarding the Easter attack.
In addition, it is said that in his letter of protest, Cardinal Thero has also recalled the arbitrary, irresponsible and irrational manner in which Senior DIG Deshbandu Tennok acted in the investigations related to the incident of the discovery of a hand grenade in the Church of All Saints, Borella.
However, The Morning newspaper has asked the opinion of the speaker regarding the protest letter submitted by the cardinals to the Constitutional Council, and the speaker has said that it is a completely inappropriate action.
Father Jude Krishantha Fernando, the National Communications Director of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka, has commented on the speaker’s comments.
He suggests that the intervention of the cardinals should not be taken in a political sense.
Father Jude Fernando is of the opinion that if one of the two officers becomes the Inspector General of Police, it could be a serious problem for the security of the country, as the investigation reports regarding the Easter attack have recommended that action should be taken against both officials.
“The two of them were waiting for 269 people to die… So, can we think that if he becomes the Inspector General of Police, he will do his job properly..?” Father Jude Crisantha Fernando questions.
