Inspector General of Police (Sri Lanka)
| Inspector General of Police | |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka Police Service | |
| Abbreviation | IGP |
| Member of | National Security Council |
| Reports to | Ministry of Law and Order |
| Nominator | President of Sri Lanka |
| Appointer | Constitutional Council |
| Constituting instrument | Police Ordinance, No. 16 of 1865 |
| Precursor | Fiscal of Colombo |
| Formation | 3 September 1866 |
| First holder | William Robert Campbell (as Chief Superintendent of Police) |
| Deputy | Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) |
| Website | www |
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) is the professional head of the Sri Lanka Police. He is the most senior police officer in Sri Lanka and oversees all police personnel throughout the country. The IGP reports to the Minister of Law and Order, when the Police Service is under the Ministry of Law and Order as it is currently. Senior DIG C. D. Wickramaratne is currently acting as IGP while Pujith Jayasundara is on compulsory leave.[1]
History
The post of Inspector General of Police in Sri Lanka can be traced as far back as 1797 when the office of Fiscal was created and Fredric Barron Mylius was appointed as Fiscal of Colombo and entrusted with responsibility of policing the City of Colombo.[2] In 1833, the Head of the Police Service was called the Superintendent of Police, in 1836 the designation was changed to Chief Superintendent of Police.[3]
The official establishment of the Ceylon Police Force was on 3 September 1866 when William Robert Campbell (then the chief of police in the Indian province of Rathnageri) was appointed as Chief Superintendent of Police in Ceylon to be in charge of the Police units.[4][5] This post officially became the Chief of Police but was soon changed to that of the Inspector General of Police accordingly William Robert Campbell became the first Inspector General of Police.[6]
The current Inspector General of Police is Pujith Jayasundara, who succeeded N. K. Illangakoon in April 2016.[7][8] Jayasundara was asked to resign by President Maithripala Sirisena, but has refused and has been put on compulsory leave in the wake of the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings debacle, Senior DIG C. D. Wickramaratne has been appointed as acting Inspector General.[9][10]
Removal
The Inspector General of Police can be removed through an investigation by a 3-member committee if found guilty of specified offence(s) under the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act No. 5 of 2002.[10]
Inspector Generals of Police
See also
Notes
- ^ Currently on compulsory leave
References
- ^ "New Chief Justice and Acting IGP appointed". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
- ^ Pippet, G. K. (1969). A History of the Ceylon Police: 1795-1870 (Volume 1). Times of Ceylon Company.
- ^ Perera, Rienzie (3 September 2006). "The 140th Police Day Anniversary". Sunday Island. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
- ^ Dep, A. C. (1969). A History of the Ceylon Police: 1866-1913 (Volume 2). Times of Ceylon Company.
- ^ Roth, Mitchell P. (2001). Historical Dictionary of Law Enforcement. Greenwood Press. p. 54. ISBN 0-313-30560-9.
- ^ Stead, Philip John (1977). Pioneers in Policing. Patterson Smith. pp. 252–253. ISBN 9780875858036.
- ^ "Snr. DIG Pujith Jayasundara recommended for position of IGP". News First. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ^ "CC nominates Pujith Jayasundara as next police chief". Colombo Gazette. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ^ "IGP sent on compulsory leave". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
- ^ a b "Pujith Jayasundara sent on compulsory leave". Colombo Gazette. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.