Supreme Court to Hear FR Petitions Against IGP Appointment in May

The Supreme Court has scheduled the hearing of nine Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions challenging the appointment of Deshabandu Tennakoon as Inspector General of Police (IGP) for May 6, 7, and 8.

The petitions argue that Tennakoon’s appointment, following his tenure as Senior DIG in charge of the Western Province, was made in an unconstitutional manner.

A five-member Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Yasantha Kodagoda, A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Shiran Gunaratne, and Achala Vengappuli, took up the case today (24).

During the proceedings, President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, representing Tennakoon, pointed out that an interim injunction had been issued, preventing his client from performing duties as IGP. He requested the court to expedite the hearing.

The petitioners, including the Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Young Journalists’ Association, and other parties, argue that the Constitutional Council’s recommendation to appoint Tennakoon as IGP was unlawful. They seek a Supreme Court ruling declaring the appointment illegal.

The court will proceed with hearings in early May, where both parties will present their arguments regarding the legality of the IGP’s appointment.