Ranil trying his best to block Deshabandu from being IGP

By Easwaran Rutnam

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is trying his best to block Senior Deputy Inspector of Police (DIG) Deshabandu Tennakoon from being appointed as the next Inspector General of Police (IGP), sources told Colombo Gazette.

Sources at the President’s office said that Wickremesinghe is expected to continue to extend the term of current IGP C. D. Wickramaratne.

Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles is determined to have Deshabandu Tennakoon as the next IGP.

However, sources told Colombo Gazette that the President does not want Tennakoon to be appointed as the next IGP owing to his poor track record.

Deshabandu Tennakoon is known to be a close associate of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) leadership.

Tennakoon had also been questioned over his failure to prevent the attack on the peaceful protest in Galle Face in 2022.

Tennakoon was at Galle Face when the mob attack on the peaceful protesters took place.

Wickramaratne has already been granted multiple service extensions by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The current IGP was to retire from service on 26 March 2023 but his tenure was extended on multiple occasions by the President. (Colombo Gazette)