Sumanthiran advises President on how to circumvent impediments over IGP crisis

ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran making a point with President Ranil Wickremesinghe at a meeting held at Jaffna District Secretariat. File pix

Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) frontliner and Jaffna district parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran was at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday for a private meeting with President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

As he walked in, he noticed Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena was leaving the office following a meeting.

Among the critical issues the Jaffna politician discussed with President Wickremesinghe was the ongoing controversy and potential constitutional crisis looming over the appointment of an Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP).

President Wickremesinghe said he was also willing to hear the legal opinion of President’s Counsel Sumanthiran, who is regarded as an expert in constitutional law.

President Wickremesinghe explained that he was unable to implement the order issued by the Supreme Court to appoint an acting IGP until hearings were concluded in the case against incumbent Police Chief Deshabandu Tennakoon. The President said if he were to implement the court decision, he might face legal challenges in the form of election violation petitions since he is also one of the candidates in the upcoming presidential election.

The President’s remarks came after the Supreme Court indicated that it would not be involved in any talks with the Speaker on the issue as suggested by the President last week.

Mr. Sumanthiran explained that as a constitutional appointing authority, the President is duty-bound to make the appointment, indicating instances of the IGP post becoming vacant due to a voluntary resignation or sudden death of an IGP.

If the President believes that he might face legal consequences if he is to appoint a new IGP, Sumanthiran PC suggested that the President could convene a meeting of political party leaders represented in Parliament and request them to nominate persons, and those names can be forwarded for approval to the Constitutional Council.

By adopting this mechanism, the President can omit being subjected to legal challenges of election violations, the President was told. President Wickremesinghe, who listened carefully, said he would look into that aspect as well. (The Sunday Times)