Unit to probe complaints against police officers
by Jayampathy Jayasinghe
The National Police Commission (NPC) will shortly approve the setting
up of a Public Complaints Division to investigate complaints made
against the police department or any police officer. Senior Assistant
Secretary or a retired public servant is tipped to be appointed to head
the division, sources said.
The NPC has already selected ten investigators from 65 applicants who
will assist Provincial Co-ordinators in recording and investigating
complaints made against police officers. The nine Co-ordinators are
expected to assume duties in their provinces shortly. Their offices will
be set up in government buildings away from police stations to generate
public confidence.
Meanwhile, the National Police Commission has promoted eleven Senior
Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to the rank of Deputy Inspector General
of Police (DIG) including five retired persons as directed by the
Supreme Court. The following Senior Supdts. of Police (SSPs) were
promoted by the NPC on August 2. H. N. B. Ambanwala, H. W. A. Anthony
(retired), H. A. Levangama, J. S. Udawatte (retired) T. Wanigaratne
(retired) M. A. Kamaldeen, R. S. P. Siriwardena, D. C. Kariyawasam
(retired) H. G. Wickramasinghe, D. P. L. Dassanayake (retired) H. V. P.
L. de Silva.
According to NPC sources several Senior Superintendents of Police who
were dissatisfied by the promotions effected by the NPC in May 2005 to
the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police filed Fundamental Rights
petitions in the Supreme Court.
Thereafter, the Supreme Court directed the National Police Commission
to hold interviews to fill the vacancies of DIGs. Interviews will also
be held to fill the vacancies of five retired DIGs shortly. The NPC has
decided that due recognition should be given to seniority while
considering merit as a criteria. |