• Says appointment is the greatest insult to victims of Easter Sunday terror attacks 
• Calls appointment of an officer who neglected his duties allowing hundreds to die as barbaric
• Archbishop of Colombo condemns appointment with deep disgust 
• Stresses President, who appointed such an individual, is indifferent to safety of people

The Catholic Church yesterday expressed its displeasure over the President’s decision to appoint Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennekoon as the Acting Inspector General of Police. 

Issuing a statement, Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith condemned and rejected the appointment with deep disgust. The Archbishop said the appointment is the greatest insult to victims of the Easter Sunday attack.

He highlighted that the President’s Commission of Inquiry into the Easter Sunday attack has recommended disciplinary action against Tennekoon for not preventing the attack, despite having the capability to do so.

“If those such as Deshabandu Tennekoon had carried out their duties 275 innocents would be alive today,” he said. The Archbishop said that appointing an officer like Tennenkoon, who neglected his duties and allowed hundreds of innocent people to die, as the Inspector General of Police, was barbaric.

He also noted other allegations against the senior cop including failing to prevent the attack on the protestors at Galle Face Green on 9 May 2022. 

“It seems that the President, who appointed such an individual, is indifferent to the safety of the people in the country,” he remarked.

He mentioned that despite letters from the Catholic Church and various groups urging the President not to appoint Tennekoon to the position, the President has disregarded these pleas in favour of individuals like Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles.

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