MR questions IGP’s failure to follow Police Commission recommendations

By Skandha Gunasekara

Former President and current Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliament yesterday demanded to know why the Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara failed to follow recommendations of the National Police Commission.

“Today, this parliament is talking about revising emoluments and other allowances of the chairpersons and members of the nine independent commissions. But, the IGP does not follow recommendations given by the National Police Commission. If a higher ranked official has the ability to decide not to follow recommendations of these commissions, what is the point of establishing them? What is the point of increasing their allowances if officials do not follow their recommendations?” MP Rajapaksa said, taking part in yesterday’s Second Reading debate on the Value-Added Tax (amendment) bill. However, MP Rajapaksa assured the House that neither he nor the Joint Opposition had any objection to increasing allowances of the members of the nine independent commissions.

“Do not get me wrong here. We have no problem with increasing their allowances. But, our problem is that officials like the IGP do not follow their recommendations. For an example, the National Police Commission recommended to promote Kilinochchi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Palitha Siriwardena. But, that recommendation has been delayed by IGP Jayasundara. If this is the situation, I wonder what the point is of having independent commissions.”

In response, Minister of Public Administration, Management, and Law and Order Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that SSP Siriwardena has allegations levelled against him.

“According to the Establishment Code, a State worker cannot be promoted if that person has charge sheets levelled against them. That is why the promotion Rajapaksa mentioned has not happened thus far,” the Minister elaborated.

Rajapaksa replied that the Government must be more proactive to the recommendations of the National Police Commission.  

“The National Police Commission recommends something after conducting a thorough investigation. It is not fair to delay promotions they recommended when someone makes a complaint against an officer after they were promoted. You should be more sensitive to these factors as the Government,” Rajapaksa said.