News

News

NPC inactive but promotions coming
By Asif Fuard
Around 4500 police officers are to be promoted within this week despite the National Police Commission (NPC) not functioning. The Sunday Times learns there are 3500 sub-inspectors and 2300 inspectors in the country with most of them completing 12 years in their rank and waiting for promotion. Due to the stagnation of police officers in the rank of sub inspector and inspector, IGP Chandra Fernando, on the direction of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse and Police Advisor H.M.G.B. Kotakadeniya, has decided to promote these officers in the coming weeks despite the National Police Commission not functioning anymore.

The legality of promoting them has become an issue. The promotions are to be given based on seniority and conduct. A sub inspector who has served for over 8 years is to be promoted as inspector and an inspector who has served for more than 4 years is to be promoted as chief inspector.

The promotions were due to be given last Thursday but it is learnt that on a special request from the Defence Ministry they were postponed for the coming week.

However many civic rights organisations have condemned the Police Department , the IGP and the Defence Ministry for taking over the duties of the NPC while it was not functioning. They say that the IGP assuming the duties of the NPC and making promotions is arbitrary and goes against the 17th Amendment to the Constitution.

The 17th Amendment empowers the NPC with promotions, appointments, dismissals and transfers of police officers and was set up to depoliticise the Police Department. It is learnt that many transfers and promotions have been given to suit the agenda of politicians.

In one such case a senior OIC who served in Kotahena had reportedly been given a transfer to Police Headquarters on the request of a SLFP Colombo District Minister’s son. Some stations and units have no OICs as they have been transferred to other parts of the island.

A senior police source who did not wish to be named told The Sunday Times that 350 OICs have been transferred from a total of 401 police stations after the NPC’s 3 year period lapsed last November.

“These promotions and transfers made by the IGP are questionable as the 17th Amendment gives the power of transfer and promotion only to the National Police Commission. Since the NPC is defunct the IGP cannot make appointments and promotions till the next commission is appointed. Even if a new commission is appointed the damage has already been done. It seems as if these promotions are given with the upcoming elections in mind so that the politicians can do whatever they want,” the source said.

Top

Back to News