Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has found both the Constitutional Council which he heads and president Ranil Wickremesinghe to be correct in their respective decisions
with regard to the position of the inspector general of police.
Speaking to ‘Divaina’ newspaper, Abeywardena has defended the CC’s decision to remove C.D. Wickramaratne as the IGP.
Already given two service extensions, he was removed as per provisions in the constitution, although his tenure was extended by three more weeks, said the speaker.
Also, the president’s decision to give him a third extension was not wrong either, he said.
According to him, all eight members of the CC were well aware of that power of the executive.
Meanwhile, UNP MP Wajira Abeywardena said only the president and the parliament are empowered by the constitution to appoint or remove a police chief.
The CC can only recommend a name for the position, he told the media yesterday (18).
