-The inside story-
(Lanka-e-News- 18.April.2016, 11.30PM) When the Constitutional Council (CC) met today(18) to select the new IGP, the Council chose Poojitha Jayasundara as the IGP from the three names sent by the president to the CC. The latter after its selection conveyed its decision to the president , based on reports reaching Lanka e News.
The CC that met at the parliamentary complex today (18) at 3.15 p.m.concluded the meeting in about 45 minutes. The meeting was not attended by all the members of the CC.Only 7 members were present while Shibly Azeez and Radhika Kumaraswamy did not participate. When the vote was taken by secret ballot in respect of the three candidates ,Poojitha received 5 votes while S. M Wickremesinghe received one . The remaining vote was annulled. Accordingly , Poojitha’ s name was forwarded to the president.
When the new IGP was being selected , since the CC followed a procedure that was contradictory to that when the Attorney General (AG) was selected , there had arisen doubts and misgivings among the public.
During the selection of the AG , when the president forwarded three names to the CC, the latter returned the list and asked for one name only while stating that the president can only send one name. But in this instance the CC did not adhere to this mode of selection when electing the new IGP.
The CC in this case had notified the secretary to the president to send the names of three aspirants.Accordingly , the names of S.M. Wickremesinghe , Poojitha Jayasundara and Chandana Wickremeratne were forwarded to the CC. The latter thereupon , selected Poojitha Jayasundara who was second in seniority.
When inquiries were made by Lanka e News, it came to light that , it was the president himself who had requested the CC to send three names , saying that he cannot name a single aspirant . It was the view of the president , since S.M. Wickremesinghe is the chief of his security contingent , and if the president names only him , it will be unfair by others . Hence , the president had named three aspirants to the CC to select one name with a view to demonstrate president’s affinity for democracy , and to further prove that the method adopted is democratic.
Subsequently , the CC that met today had chosen Poojitha in preference to S.M . not because of the former’s suitability over S.M. but to avert unwarranted issues that can spring up in the future if S.M. is selected. The main reason for this is , in the Thajudeen murder under the Rajapakse era , during the future investigations pertaining to it , if and when PSD officers become the accused , and in that situation , if S.M. who was the chief of the PSD is holding the post of IGP, it can impede and interfere with the investigations. Besides during the Rajapakse era because S.M . had been aware somewhat of the controversial Thajudeen murder , and if he is elected the IGP now it will render impossible for him to act impartially , and would face an embarrassing situtation during the investigations.
An investigation under way against S.M. at the Commission inquiring into allegations of bribery and corruption may have also swayed the decision of the CC against him. In the case of Chandana Wickremeratne , though there are no such charges against him , he has 7 more years to go on retirement , and if he becomes the IGP , with his entitlement to an extension in service for a further period of 5 years , he will be able to go on for 12 long years. Since an IGP serving for such a long period is un-befitting , it was finally decided by the CC to appoint Poojitha Jayasundara who is prone to exhibitionism as the IGP.
During the recent past Poojitha conducted a face book campaign which was unbecoming of his official status , yet the CC did not take serious note of that ; it had considered that as a display of his unsuitability .
In any event , by this , the president secured the opportunity to have S.M. Wickremesinghe who is most qualified academically of the three contenders, and a friend of Maithripala Sirisena as a politician since the days S.M. was in the University , to continue to have him as the chief of his presidential security contingent.
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by (2016-04-19 11:01:29)
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2 discussion on this news
So he is an Exhibitionist?? Raises his sarong and shows around?
Anyway , he looks a Pendaya, no manhood !!
-- by Psycho on 2016-04-18
This was a far more democratic choice, despite the many flaws that an IGP candidate can have,
and sets the stage for such future choices. Pity the aged Reps. kept away.
-- by punchinilame on 2016-04-19
