The Supreme Court has scheduled hearings for nine Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions challenging the appointment of Deshabandu Tennakoon as the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The petitions argue that Tennakoon’s appointment—following his tenure as the Senior DIG in charge of the Western Province—was unconstitutional.
A five-member Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Yasantha Kodagoda, A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Shiran Gunaratne, and Achala Wengappuli, took up the case today (Feb. 24).
President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, representing Tennakoon, informed the court that an interim injunction had been issued, preventing his client from performing duties as IGP. He requested an expedited hearing of the case.
After reviewing the arguments, the court fixed the hearings for May 6, 7, and 8.
The petitioners include His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo, the Young Journalists’ Association, and other parties. They contend that the Constitutional Council’s recommendations for Tennakoon’s appointment were unlawful and seek a ruling declaring the decision invalid.
