The Constitutional Council which has been tasked with selecting the next Inspector General of Police (IGP), is facing a fresh crisis in carrying out its duties owing to a conflict of interest.
DIG Pujith Jayasundara
Highly placed sources told the Colombo Telegraph that due to Minister Champika Ranawaka sitting in the council, it has resulted in an issue, as one of the contenders for the post is Senior DIG Pujith Jayasundara, who has been handling the recent investigation concerning the minister who is alleged to have been in a hit and run accident in Rajagiriya which left one person critically injured.
“As one of the candidates who is vying for the post of IGP, and as the Minister is a member of the Constitutional Council, there is a clear conflict of interest, which also questions the independence of the Council in selecting the IGP,” sources said.
The Constitutional Council, which was tasked by President Maithripala Sirisena to take the final decision on selecting the 34th IGP, is scheduled to meet on April 18 to decide from three prospective candidates, S. M. Wickramasinghe, Pujith Jayasundara and Chandana Wickramaratne.
Incumbent IGP N.K. Illangakoon, retires from service today.
Vibhushana / April 11, 2016
I think the cops should standardise the colour of their uniform. There seems to be various shades of Khaki.
The first cop wears a Khaki that pleases the eye. The cop in the background wears a Khaki that is not very pleasing to the eye.
I think the problem is the second colour closely match the skin colour. It makes them look like they are naked.
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Sheila Richards / April 11, 2016
There is an easy way to solve this problem. Champika Ranawaka could recluse himself in this matter and step aside thereby ensuring the independence in this decision making process. But will he do it?
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Lanka Watch / April 11, 2016
Sheila Richard. – You said it right. That should be the right thing to do and the minister should not take part in any of the CC meetings on
the subject, if the govt. wants to follow democratic principles.
One doubts whether the CC is independent or they can be pushed.
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Dragos / April 13, 2016
Ceylon was administered from Madras Presidency 1st British Mounted Police.
Police meant: Polite Obedient Loyal Intelligent Courageous Efficient
Ceylon was given independence by a stroke of accident. Seeing it today Does it deserve it?? I don’t think so because it revels in killing its own people and claiming we are War Hero’s There are no Hero’s at war but the ones left.
Given the opportunity of selecting a President who would relinquish the Presidency in 100 days Everyone hijacked the franchise- it was like wearing tainted knickers by turning it inside out- only the insane do it.- that’s the Lankan voter. In solace it abuses the west and the Europeans even after 48.
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Ben Hurling / April 11, 2016
Sheila Richards,
Champuka should step side from CC in this case. Given the glaring Conflict of Interest. But, of course he will not.
Why? He is a Sri Lankan, a politician, a racist bigot and a religious extremist. Above all an opportunist with a long term plan for himself.
None which speaks for impeccable ethics.
Cheers!
PS: Solution is simple. IGP “Wannabe” Pujitha should arrest him. Law should not wait for Champuka’s moves. Thanks!
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trunket / April 11, 2016
Your postscript exhibits your character.
There is no CCTV footage now How-come??
for a moment I would never believe a policeman.
The folk who know them best are leading criminal lawyers.
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Ben Hurling / April 12, 2016
Trunket,
“Your postscript exhibits your character.”
Ouch! That kind of hurts darling.
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trunket / April 12, 2016
spirit of reasonableness and the age of peace would dawn.
The body of a letter/post is perfectly sound of a logical man while the PS truly human spirit.father to son or husband to wife.;)
Father writes to I find it difficult to pay extras as there are 3 others …..PS Hang it son somehow i will do it. Husband to wife requesting for divorce because …PS. Dame it, sweetie pie Sophie I’am a rotten dog myself I am coming home with a lovely bunch of flowers.
Where is your friend Gamini is he working for Ranil?
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trunket / April 12, 2016
Ben Hurling,
Sheila Richards says: “There is an easy way to solve this problem.” (positive note to draw attention)
then ends it with: “But will he do it? ” drops the manure”
As if the nation, Canada, UK aren’t aware of Champuka the thug and sponsor of terror- how did he ever pass out as an electrical engineer??
She never had a solution in the first place to start with but was an impulsive social worker.
typical posters gives her + ticks- that is why the country should never have got independence in the first place.
they can’t think for themselves even on a blog but vote en block like the Muslims.
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trunket / April 12, 2016
Sheila Richards,
Lanka as in the UK which is more complex has institutionalised racism in the judiciary and police. UK has sandwiched the rotten police and in the middle. At the bottom there are 2 volunteer social workers (they are properly whetted for connections etc – they are there to assist the poor and women children who are shunned at the police or beaten and are unable to complain) Victim Support Unit in every police station and from then on all communications come via this unit to Victim. The top layer is police complaints unit answerable to a parliamentary committee of 11. A poor man phones the police and they don’t come or attend to the serious nature of the matter or assault them on the street. The PCU is taken very seriously by police. All these cases you hear on BBC come into investigation because of PCU pressure. It’s not fool proof but we are getting there.
There are no peaches on the beaches to pluck easily.;)
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harry hatton / April 11, 2016
The country in chaos ! ungovernable ! Big gap between Ranil’s poses and his deeds !
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Muhammed Fazl / April 11, 2016
Pujitha should be made the next IGP
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Ben Hurling / April 12, 2016
Muhammed Fazl,
Pujitha’s Police was quick to arrest down-trodden, powerless “Eagle killers”. Rightfully so.
However, Pujitha’s Police is still looking for Tajudeen Killers & Champuka is still free. Just two examples.
Problems of Pujitha’s Police is far bigger and deeper than just one personality. Sri Lanka Police is institutionally, so horribly corrupt, criminal and flawed.
That has to be addressed first. Pujitha or no Pujitha.
Cheers!
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Ganjapani Gorakapola / April 11, 2016
The solution is pretty simple.
Hon Ranawaka should in the first instance, declare the conflict of interest to the Council. In fact, all other members also should declare likely conflicts with the nominees, maybe having met any of them, know any of them, have had a drink with them, officially, unofficially etc.
Once conflicts are declared, it is for the Chair of the Committee to decide the participation of a member would compromise the role of the committee. If the Chair decides that Hon Ranawaka’s role in the Committee will not impact on the Police Officer’s role in dealing with the traffic incident, Hon Ranawaka can continue in the Committee. If the Chair decides otherwise, Hon Champika will not participate in the selection of the IGP.
Fundamentally, this is not an issue. Hon Champika, the only effective and outstanding Minister in the Sena-Singhe Government, is mature enough and capable enough to handle this issue.
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The Professional / April 11, 2016
Minister CR is a person with conflicting interests and he therefore does not understand what conflict of interest means.
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Bruno Umbato / April 12, 2016
Ganjapani says “…Hon Champika, the only effective and outstanding minister…”
You must be high when you write it, Ganja …
Pa.Cha.R is a very dubious character with the lowest level of morality in present day joker ministers … Never takes any responsibility for anything which goes wrong which include driving a defender .. Even if he opt out of the constitutional council, I am pretty sure he will make sure it to appoint his buddy through Maru Sira because he is right hand man of Sira.
Read Island article on april 09th about former CEB chairman Vidaya Dilruk Amrapala (pa.cha. appointed him as chairman, he is his batchmate) who is 47th in the Panama paper scandal list ….
Another article about pa.cha. (http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2011/06/12/ceb-amarapala-out-as-unions-vindicated/)
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http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=41578 CEB charade continues over dubious Rs 3 billion supply contract December 20, 2011, 12:00 pm article_image By Ifham Nizam
CEB officials have questioned Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka as to how the former Chairman of CEB Vidya Amarapala signed over a power supply contract worth more than Rs. 3,000 million to a company called Aggreko in 2011. Under Government Tender Guidelines, this contract should have been evaluated by a Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee (CANC) and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. However, Ranawaka’s confidante Amarapala had not only negotiated this contract single-handedly with Aggreko, but has also given several concessions as well, CEB sources not wanting to be named point out. When the CEB Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) complained to the Power and Energy Secretary, M. M. C. Ferdinando about this highly irregular deal, he had by his letter dated March 29, 2011 called for explanations from Amarapala as to how this contract signed violating Government Tender Guidelines. Ranawaka had then submitted a Cabinet Paper seeking covering approval for the contract, claiming that his Ministry was forced to extend the Aggreko contract by one more year since it was necessary to continue the power supply in the Jaffna Peninsula. When Ranawaka took over the Ministry of Power and Energy in May 2010, the existing contract of Aggreko was to expire on December 31, 2010. However, Minister Ranawaka had openly declared on several occasions that the two existing power supply contracts in Jaffna, with Aggreko and Northern Power, were corrupt. Vidya Amarapala stated at a media conference held at the Ministry in May 2011 that he had no choice but to extend the Aggreko contract for another year because CEB officials concerned did not inform him until the last moment that the existing Aggreko contract would expire on December 31, 2011. He also claimed that the contract with the other company Northern Power was corrupt as an unnamed official was behind that contract signed in 2009. However, the Northern Power contract had been approved by the Cabinet after CEB had adhered to proper tender procedures. “Amarapala had not given any explanation in response to Secretary Ferdinando’s letter. The Ministry has not even issued a letter of warning to Amarapala for this serious act of corruption, let alone taking any other action against him,” a senior official said. He says under Government rules, this matter should have been reported to the Commission to Investigate Bribery or Corruption. Minister Ranawaka was forced to remove Amarapala and his two colleagues Roshan Gunawardane and Douglas Premaratne in June this year under pressure from CEB trade unions. Be that as it may, The Island Financial Review has learned that Amarapala’s successor Prof. Wimaladarma Abeywickrema too has extended the Aggreko Contract for another year from January 1, 2012. What is interesting in this case is that CEB had called for open tenders in September 2011 and closed the tenders on October 17, 2011. The Cabinet approval for this tender was expected in end-November, leaving only one month for the prospective tenderers to commence commercial operation on January 1, 2011. Needless to say, this timeline of the CEB has made it impossible for any new entrant to acquire and instal the necessary equipment, including generators, oil storage facilities and grid connection, by allowing only one month to complete all that work. The million dollar question is why Chairman Abeywickrema delayed calling this tender this time as well, when he could have allowed sufficient time for prospective suppliers to submit competitive bids. The present Chairman cannot claim that he too was told at the last moment by CEB officials that the existing Aggreko contract his predecessor Amarapala signed would expire on December 31, 2011. Aggreko had been virtually guaranteed another year, as CEB may not have anticipated another supplier willing to adhere to this near-impossible time targets. Much to the surprise of everyone, The Island Financial Review has learned that several bidders have submitted offers that were cheaper than the offer of Aggreko. One such bidder is a company listed officially under the Ministry of Power and Energy having much experience in constructing and operating several private power plants in Sri Lanka and abroad. However, for reasons best known to the CEB Chairman Abeywickrema, he and his Vice Chairman have extended the Aggreko contract till 2012 after cancelling the above tender. The present Vice Chairman Anura Wijayapala is a batch mate of Minister Ranawaka from the University of Moratuwa. Senior CEB officials claim that the whole charade of calling tenders was only a laughable attempt by the present CEB Chairman to say that CEB made an attempt to adhere to competitive bidding this time around, when he had already decided to award the tender to Aggreko anyhow.
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Pygmalion / April 11, 2016
Is this S.M.Wickramasinghe,the person who was tasked to inquire into the killing of Kumar Ponnambalam?
If so,I dread to think what is in store for the Police Dept!
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Nagananda / April 11, 2016
No Representative Democracy can function without the government that respects the Separation of Power doctrine.
Legislature has a designated function under the Constitution; that is making laws and it should not get involves in making appointments that assign to the Constitutional Council and the CC shall be an absolute independent body free from any interference from the executive or Legislature if people expect it to deliver what they want.
Yet, when it was reintroduced last year, Lawmakers vehemently demanded for a big cut in it, that is purely to influence appointments the constitution assign CC to make, including the judges to the superior court, auditor general, attorney general and many more important appointments. This is the attitude and sorry state of our 5 star democracy and with this mind set this country will never move forward.
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Stanley / April 11, 2016
SM Wicremasinge was part of the Mahinda Rajapaksa gang as head of his security.He was obviously a part of MR’s reign of terror and fear.If Wickremasinge is made IGP what yahapalanaya are we taking about? If Pujitha is made IGP then it would be a lovely endorsement of his getting his officers to kneel for an alleged misdemeanour.The remaining guy seems to have not hit the headlines in a negative manner.Perhaps other readers may throw some light.It would help the authorities in coming to a good decision even by disregarding all 3
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SHANI / April 12, 2016
Mr Wickramasinghe is President Mythripala Sirisena’s head of security as well . So whats the issue? They serve the government and leaders. Thats their duty. Only thing is they should do their work honorably !
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Lanka Watch / April 11, 2016
If DIG Pujitha Jayasundara is not made the IGP due to hit and run incident by CR, and the subsequent attempt to cover up the incident,
the next govt. which is certainly not going to be this Govt, will make him the IGP with back pay with more decorations for discharging his
duties without fear or favour. If he retires prematurely, he will be
made IGP for one day and discharged with honors, like what was done
to former CJ Ms.Bandaranayake.
The sincerity and the necessity of the CC will be judged by this case.
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Muheed Jeeran / April 12, 2016
According to my view, Distance between Police and Public are Widen in the recent past, which is a very sad state in Sri Lanka.
I strongly believe that the next Inspector General of Police should have the capacity the bridge the gap between these two entities which is the most challenging part in the police system.
Senior DIG Pujitha Jayasundara is having a wonderful PR Skill according to my expertise knowledge. I strongly believe that he should be seriously considered to the top post of Sri Lanka Police Department. I think this time the selection priority must be given to someone who has the closer touch with public.
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BBS Rep / April 12, 2016
I am glad of one thing.
That man, N. K. Illangakone, who did almost nothing noteworthy as IGP other than block investigation into utterly reprehensible crimes during the last regime is going out. May he continue to do nothing in his retirement.
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Ranjan Fernando / April 12, 2016
Is there a clean policeman who could take up this position of IGP? Obviously not! They are all tainted with the ingrained habit of pandering to the political masters. The guy Wickramasinghe is the most notorious heard to be involved in many of the Rajapakse misdemeanours. Therefore the worst choice at the moment.
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frankistine / April 13, 2016
Police: set a thief to catch a thief- perfect. but if the public/politicians pressure them directly the thieves would become monsters.
Why does ‘t “Nagananda” above spell out the practical British model- he lived and worked at Scotland.
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sacre blieu / April 12, 2016
Failure to handle this important appointment with the best candidate will result with the Police Department going down the precipice of disaster,with the police ending up as a den of thieves and criminals.
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Pacs / April 12, 2016
The SL police bears 99% cause and responsibility for the communal friction in this country. Deport all the police and import some from china and Singapore.
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ARTHUR / April 12, 2016
Mr.Ranjan Fernando,is there a clean policeman you have asked.
This was the same question I asked from an uncle of mine who had retired from the police department.My uncle had a hard look at me and said ‘yes, there was one’. He was after a few shots of the spirit that cheers and therefore was willing to talk.In his entire career (commencing from late 1950s up to 80s) my uncle had come across only one single police officer.That officer’s name was Inspector Kandiah.
Inspector Kandiah was so honest that he was known to the entire Police department as ‘honest Kandiah’.That became his nickname.He was highly regarded by superior officers because of his legendary honesty.His ASP would say “Kandiah? He is honest”. The SP will give a certificate “Kandiah is an honest officer”. DIG of the Range will swear by Kandiah – he is honest.The honest Kandiah tag stuck to the man permanently.
My uncle paused for a while and asked “Do you want to know how Inspector Kandiah managed to remain honest Kandiah?”.Then he continued.
“Because Kandiah distributed the loot/spoils honestly to his higher officers without pocketing it to himself. ASPs share to ASP.SPs share to SP and DIGs share to DIG without a cent less.That way he managed to get the plaudits from all his superiors”.
So much for clean/honest police officer.
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Bagehot / April 14, 2016
Quite simply this wins the comment of the year award on CT as far as I am concerned!
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Plato. / April 14, 2016
Arthur.
Are you serious?
Are there clean POLICEMAN?
I will stop there!
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Plato. / April 14, 2016
Is this guy WICRAMASINGHE the same guy who was involved with the inquiries related to the killing of Kumar Ponnabalam?
If so,he needs to be horse Whipped!
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