IGP Pujith Jayasundera and the National Police Commission (NPC) members will appear before the Constitutional Council (CC) meetings scheduled at 2.30 p.m. today. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, who is also the Chairman of CC, has summoned the two parties for a special meeting to iron out the differences between the Police and the National Police Commission.The 10-member CC is the apex body that makes decisions pertaining to the appointments to the Independent Commissions and looks into the affairs of those Commissions. The IGP is also appointed on the recommendations of the CC.
The CC has also got several complaints over the lack of powers to the Police Commission to act in instances when the Police do not abide by its instructions.
A tussle between the IGP and the Police Commission came to light over several appointments and promotions of Police officers.
The Commission complained that its recommendations had been repeatedly disregarded by the IGP.
The IGP in return had justified the grounds for his actions. In the wake of recent developments, the Speaker has summoned National Police Commission Chairman P.H. Manatunge,its members and the IGP to the CC for a special discussion. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe and Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan are ex-officio members of the CC. Dr. A.T.Ariyaratne, Dr.Radhika Coomaraswamy and Justice Shibly Aziz are serving as Civil Society representatives. Former Minister John Seneviratne, JVP MP Vijitha Herath, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe are other members .