The National Police Commission has issued an Extraordinary Gazette notification amending specific provisions related to the delegation of powers under Article 155J of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
According to the Gazette, amendments have been made to Items No. 4 and No. 8, while Item No. 5 has been removed from the Schedule of the earlier Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2341/51, dated July 20, 2023. All other provisions in the said Gazette remain unchanged.
The revised delegation of powers will come into effect on June 1, 2025.
Updated Delegation of Powers:
Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs) are now authorized to:
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Exercise powers over Police officers holding the rank of Sergeant Major and below;
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Supervise Police Security Assistants;
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Manage transfers within their administrative areas in line with procedures approved by the National Police Commission;
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Handle matters related to interdictions and disciplinary control (excluding dismissal, termination of service, or cancellation of enlistment).
Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) are now authorized to:
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Exercise powers over Inspectors of Police and ranks below, excluding Officers-in-Charge of Police Stations and Functional Divisions;
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Oversee Police Security Assistants;
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Issue Orderly Room punishments and interdictions within their administrative areas.
New Appeals Procedure Introduced
In a separate Extraordinary Gazette, the National Police Commission has enacted a formal Appeals Procedure for police officers under Article 155K of the Constitution.
Titled “Rules (Appeals Procedure) of the National Police Commission – 2025”, the new framework allows any police officer aggrieved by decisions related to promotions, transfers, disciplinary actions, or dismissals—issued by a committee under Articles 155H or 155J, or by the Inspector General of Police or an authorized officer—to submit a written appeal to the Commission.
Both Gazette notifications were issued by E. W. M. Lalith Ekanayake, Chairman of the National Police Commission.
