CC decides to call for observations from NPC on Ahimsa’s letter objecting to new CID dir. appointment

Friday, 26 June 2020 00:38 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Daughter of slain journalist has raised questions over appointment of SSP A.R.P.J. Alwis as CID Director
CC which received copy of letter has decided to immediately call NPC for its observations
Alwis was appointed in May as new CID Director

The Constitutional Council has decided to call for immediate observations from the National Police Commission (NPC) pertaining to the letter addressed to the NPC by Ahimsa Wickrematunge, with regards to the appointment of SSP A.R.P.J. Alwis as new Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya who chaired Wednesday’s meeting of the CC, brought the contents of the letter to the attention of the members of the Council and it was decided that observations should be obtained immediately from the NPC. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was among those present at the meeting.

Ahimsa, daughter of late journalist and Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, in a letter sent in June, appealed to the NPC to block the appointment of SSP A.R.P.J. Alwis to the post alleging that Alwis was ordered to be arrested in connection to her father’s murder, and he was unsuited to such a high office. A copy of the letter was sent to the CC.

Ahimsa said in the letter that “In October 2019, the CID reported to the Mount Lavinia Magistrate Court that in 2010, the then Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) SSP A.R. Prasanna J. Alwis, had suppressed evidence and shielded suspects in order to screen my father’s murderers from punishment.”

“The CID were ordered by then Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickremaratne to arrest Alwis and produce him before the Magistrate. However SSP Alwis was never arrested or produced in court. Instead, on 21 May, the NPC approved his appointment as the new CID Director.”

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