President Ranil Wickremesinghe says the issue with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) will be resolved within a week but in a very unorthodox manner.
Wickremesinghe is under fire for not implementing the Supreme Court decision of appointing a new IGP or acting IGP and preventing Deshabandu Tennakoon from functioning as the IGP at least until the next court date in November. He said that he will have a discussion with Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and the Chief Justice and would resolve the issue to ensure a free and fair election in September.
Unusual Approach
This is very unusual because once a judge of the Supreme Court has ruled, it is not acceptable for the executive to have a discussion with the Chief Justice to decide whether to implement the judicial decision or not. Many, including the Lawyers Association who have criticized Wickremesinghe and the Speaker for appointing someone who has been convicted of a violation, will be watchful of Wickremesinghe’s next move.
An interim order was issued preventing Deshabandu Tennakoon from functioning as the Inspector General of Police (IGP). The interim order was issued by the Supreme Court based on nine petitions filed by several parties, including the head of the Catholic Church in Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, while attending the ‘Jayagamu Sri Lanka’ Colombo District Program at the Homagama Bus Stand premises on Sunday, also stated that he is not willing to move the Presidential Election beyond September 21 and that arrangements will be made to hold the election on the scheduled date.
Pressure is Mounting
Meanwhile, it is reported that Wickremesinghe is still very much under pressure from the Rajapaksa camp and certain influential Buddhist monks to allow Deshabandu Tennakoon to continue as IGP. However, many have advised Wickremesinghe that it will be a futile attempt as Deshabandu Tennakoon may face contempt of court charges if he functions as the IGP irrespective of whether a new appointment is made or not. The possibility of bringing contempt of court charges against Deshabandu Tennakoon has been highlighted by President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris, who was among the lawyers representing the petitioners challenging the appointment of Deshabandu Tennakoon.
