In a significant development before the Supreme Court today, Inspector General of Police Deshbandhu Tennakoon disclosed plans to issue a circular ensuring transparency in the disclosure of complaint statements to stakeholders. The announcement came during a hearing on a fundamental rights petition, where Tennakoon personally appeared as a respondent.
The court session, which addressed a petition filed by energy sector activist M. B. V. Ralapanawa, saw senior government lawyer Shaminda Wickrama representing Tennakoon. Wickrama highlighted the necessity of informing individuals who called for statement extraction about the complaint’s contents. He further informed the court of an upcoming circular expected to address this matter.
Responding to concerns raised by the petitioner’s Attorney, Saliya Parss, regarding the right to information about complaints, the bench ordered the drafting and submission of the circular. The President’s Counsel expressed intentions to consult the petitioner about further actions concerning the case.
The Supreme Court presided over by a three-judge bench led by Justice Gamini Amarasekara, acknowledged Tennakoon’s appearance and instructed the responsible party to furnish the drafted circular to the court. The case has been adjourned until May 9th for further proceedings.
The petitioner alleges a violation of basic human rights following an incident where the Criminal Investigation Department requested a statement regarding a Facebook comment posted on the Ceylon Electricity Board’s page. The petitioner claims officials refused to provide clarity on the matter, prompting the legal action seeking redress.
