Deshabandu Tennakoon appointed as IGP, after CC approval

(UPDATED) President Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed Deshabandu Tennakoon as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the President’s Media Division (PMD) said today.

The appointment was made hours after the Constitutional Council has approved the proposal to appoint Mr Tennakoon on a permanent basis. He was  serving in an acting capacity.

At the Constitutional Council meeting four members voted for, two members against and two were absent. 

Accordingly, the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena’s vote was taken as the deciding vote.

This was on the grounds that  with two votes against and two absentees the total number opposed to the appointment were four, thereby equaling the number of four and requiring the Speaker to cast his vote as the deciding vote.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, MP Sagara Kariyawasam and Dr Anula Wijesundera voted in favour of the appointment while the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and MP Kabur Hashim voted against. 

Dr Prathap Ramanujam and Dr Dinesh Samararathne were absent.

However, at the meeting it was disputed if the Speaker could cast his vote as two of the members were absent and that could not be considered as two votes against the appointment.

A Constitutional lawyer pointed out that the Speaker could use his votes, only when the votes are equal.

IGP Tennakoon’s letter of appointment was handed over by President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake.