National Police Commission to be broad based
 

by Jayamapthy Jayasinghe

The National Police Commission (NPC) will be broad based shortly when Provincial Co-ordinators will be appointed to look into complaints made by the public against the police, a spokesman for the National Police Commission (NPC) told the Sunday Observer.

He said the NPC would appoint a co-ordinator to each province to entertain such complaints against police and would function independently from the police. The Co-ordinator's offices would be in a government office away from police stations so as to facilitate the public to make complaints against errant police officers. At present the NPC does not have officials posted in the outstations to entertain such complaints which had inconvenienced the public.

Meanwhile, the NPC is making preparations to absorb 25,000 Reserve Policemen into the regular police service on a decision made by the present government. This includes officers of various ranks in the Police Reserve. The NPC will also fill the vacancies of eleven Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) from the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) eligible for such promotions. The NPC had already received fifty-three applications from Senior Superintendents of Police and a date will be announced shortly to hold interviews. However, the delay in appointing new members to the National Police Commission had held up the promotions of several senior police officers.

The new members of the National Police Commission are Chairman Neville Piyadigama, Ven. Elle Gunawanse Thera, (member) Justice Chandradasa Nanayakkara (member), Javid Yoosoof (member), Charmaine Madurasinghe (member), Dr. Kopalasundaram (member) and S. B. Bandusena (member). However, it is learnt that two members have not been re-appointed and their term will expire this year.

Meanwhile, another member who had not continuously attended NPC meetings will cease to function, sources said.