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| Sunday, 2 November 2003 |
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IGP appointment drama continues by JAYAMPATHY JAYASINGHE The drama over the appointment of an IGP continued with the Constitutional Council meeting scheduled for tomorrow being postponed due to the ill-health of Speaker Joseph Michael Perera, who is the current Chairman of the Council. The seniority list prepared by members of the National Police Commission (NPC) was sent under sealed cover to the Speaker in preparation for tomorrow's meeting where an IGP was to be appointed, but it may now be postponed further. The Speaker, it had been reported had been admitted to a hospital in Kandy after taking ill suddenly. The NPC was tight-lipped when asked to comment on the seniority of DIGs because to the confidential nature of the document. The Constitutional Council which met last week put off making a decision on learning that the issue of seniority had not been resolved. Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry has forwarded the names of five senior DIGs, Chandra Fernando, Gamini Randeni, T.I. de Silva, Jayatissa Herath and Sirisena Herath to the Constitutional Council to decide on the suitability of the candidate for the post of IGP. This is the first occasion when a delay had occurred in appointing an Inspector General of Police. Previous governments, however, appointed IGPs of their choice under the previous Constitutions. Two civilian IGPs were appointed during the post Independence period. The first civilian Inspector General of Police was Sir Richard Aluvihare followed by W. Abeykoon drawn from the Civil Service. About three decades ago D.B.I.P.S. Siriwardene from the Civil Service was appointed as DIG (Administration). Under the present Constitution, the President is empowered to appoint the IGP, with the concurrence of the Constitutional Council, legal sources said. |
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