SC Schedules Hearing on Petitions Against Deshabandu Tennakoon’s IGP Appointment 

The Supreme Court has fixed 6, 7, and 8 May to hear nine Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions challenging the appointment of Deshabandu Tennakoon as Inspector General of Police (IGP). 

The petitions argue that Tennakoon’s appointment, following his role as Senior DIG in charge of the Western Province, is unconstitutional. 

A five-member bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Yasantha Kodagoda, A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Shiran Gunaratne, and Achala Vengappuli took up the case yesterday (24). 

President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, representing Tennakoon, informed the court that an interim injunction had been issued, barring his client from performing IGP duties. He urged the court to expedite the hearing. 

The petitioners, including Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and the Young Journalists’ Association, contend that the Constitutional Council’s recommendation to appoint Tennakoon was unlawful and seek a ruling declaring it invalid.