National Police Commission is back [February 16 2012]

Following a recommendation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report, the Parliamentary Council has approved the names of seven member committee headed by Senaka Walgampaya PC to be appointed to the National Police Commission to reactivate the commission.

According to the Government information Department the Police Commission became defunct due to the failure to appoint new commission members after the terms of the Commission and its Chairman ended in April 2009.

However, the government in December last year stated was to activate the National Police Commission by appointing members to the defunct body in January 2012.  

The Commission was established in 2002 under the 17th Amendment to the Constitution. The Commission would now be appointed under the 18th Amendment to the Constitution.

The transfers, discipline, and issues related to examinations, in the police force come under the purview of the National Police Commission.  

The Commission is empowered to establish procedures to entertain and investigate public complaints and complaints of any aggrieved person made against a Police Officer or the Police Service and to provide redress.  

The Commission shall also provide for and determine all matters regarding Police Officers including the formulation of schemes of recruitment and training and the improvement of the efficiency and independence of the Police Service.