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Al Jazeera
4 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Sri Lanka parliament votes to fire impeached police chief
Sri Lanka's Parliament has voted to fire the country's police chief for misconduct and gross abuse of power in the island's first impeachment of an inspector general. Lawmakers on Tuesday voted to sack Deshabandu Tennakoon, who was accused of sending a team of armed officers on a botched raid in 2023 in Weligama that triggered a gun battle with a separate police unit, leading to the death of an officer. No one opposed his removal while one member abstained. The decision came after a parliament-appointed committee opened an inquiry into the allegations against Tennakoon and last month released a report that found him guilty of 19 charges related to misconduct and abuse of power. The committee found that he had 'spearheaded the questionable, illegal act of shooting' at the W15 hotel in Weligama, where a local police unit opened fire on a team sent by Tennakoon to intimidate the hotel's owner. A state prosecutor told the committee that the police chief, who headed a force of 85,000 officers, was running a 'criminal network' and was unfit to serve, even at the lowest ranks. There has been no reaction from Tennakoon since the impeachment process was initiated last month. The 54-year-old is the first head of police in the island's history to be dismissed. He was appointed police chief in 2023 by then-President Ranil Wickremesinghe despite protests from opposition lawmakers and civil rights activists who said he was not fit for the post. Before his appointment, Sri Lanka's highest court had ruled that he tortured a suspect in custody by rubbing menthol balm on his genitals.
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Sri Lankan parliament sacks disgraced police chief
Deshabandu Tennakoon was appointed Sri Lanka's police chief in November 2023. (EPA Images pic) COLOMBO : Sri Lanka's parliament voted overwhelmingly today to dismiss police chief Deshabandu Tennakoon for misconduct and criminal behaviour, making him the island's first inspector-general to be impeached. Tennakoon, 54, was removed less than two years after his controversial appointment, with a disciplinary committee finding him unfit to lead its 85,000-strong law enforcement body. Tennakoon was appointed in November 2023 by then-president Ranil Wickremesinghe, despite the Supreme Court having previously ruled that he had tortured a suspect in custody by rubbing menthol balm on his genitals. Public security minister Ananda Wijepala told parliament today that Tennakoon should never have been put in the top job, given that he faced 40 court cases for abuse of power. 'He is the most disgraced police chief in the history of our country,' Wijepala said. Parliament backed a resolution by speaker Jagath Wickramaratne to impeach Tennakoon, following a disciplinary hearing led by a Supreme Court judge and two others. 'I am pleased to inform that the motion to impeach Deshabandu Tennakoon has been approved with 177 votes in favour, and none against,' Wickramaratne said. Members of the main opposition SJB party also voted to remove the police chief. Shortly after his appointment to head the force, Tennakoon was accused of authorising a botched raid in December 2023 that led to a gun battle between rival police units in the coastal resort town of Weligama, resulting in the death of an officer. A disciplinary inquiry found that Tennakoon had 'spearheaded the questionable, illegal act of shooting'. The Supreme Court suspended him in July 2024 pending the outcome of a separate case. In March, the state prosecutor told a court that Tennakoon was operating a paramilitary hit squad to carry out illegal activities and was unfit to serve, even at the lowest rank in the police force. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said his party had objected to Tennakoon's appointment from the outset, and today's vote vindicated their position. There has been no response from Tennakoon since the impeachment process was initiated last month.
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Sri Lanka's parliament votes to fire country's police chief over abuse of power
COLOMBO, Sri LAnka (AP) — Lawmakers in Sri Lanka voted Tuesday to fire the country's police chief for misconduct and gross abuse of power, making him the island nation's first inspector-general to be impeached. In the 225-member parliament, 117 lawmakers voted to fire Deshabandu Tennakoon. No one opposed, while one member abstained. The removal came after a parliament-appointed committee inquired into the allegations against him and last month released a report that found him guilty. Tennakoon, who oversaw 85,000 police officers, faced charges of sending a team of armed officers for an illegal raid in 2023 that triggered a gun battle with a separate police unit in southern Sri Lanka. One officer was killed. Tennakoon was appointed police chief in 2023 by then-President Ranil Wickremesinghe, despite protests from then-opposition lawmakers and civil rights activists who claimed he was not fit for the post. There was no immediate comment from Tennakoon.
Kuwait Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Sri Lanka raises electricity price in line with IMF bailout
COLOMBO: A train arrives at a station in Colombo.- AFP COLOMBO: Cash-strapped Sri Lanka on Wednesday announced a 15 percent increase in the electricity price to shore up revenues for the state-run utility, in line with conditions imposed by an IMF bailout. The Public Utilities Commission said it allowed the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to charge the higher rates from Thursday, six months after a controversial reduction that pushed the utility into the red. The government had forced a 20 percent price cut on the CEB in January, despite fears that it would cause the government-owned company to lose money and undermine the national budget. Ensuring cost-recovery and doing away with subsidies is in line with the conditions set by the International Monetary Fund, which granted a four-year, $2.9 billion loan to help salvage Sri Lanka's economy. The country had declared bankruptcy after defaulting on its $46 billion foreign debt in April 2022, having run out of foreign exchange to finance even the most essential imports, such as food, fuel and medicines. Months of protests over shortages led to the toppling of then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in July 2022. His successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, secured the IMF bailout and proceeded to cut subsidies and raise taxes. Wickremesinghe lost the September election, but his successor, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, is pushing ahead with the IMF-backed reforms. Inflation, which peaked at nearly 70 percent in September 2022, has dropped sharply, and the country has been experiencing deflation since September. The IMF says Sri Lanka is slowly emerging from its worst meltdown and that the economy has turned around, although risks remain.- AFP
Qatar Tribune
12-06-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Sri Lanka raises electricity price
Agencies Cash-strapped Sri Lanka on Wednesday announced a 15 percent increase in the electricity price to shore up revenues for the state-run utility, in line with conditions imposed by an IMF bailout. The Public Utilities Commission said it allowed the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to charge the higher rates from Thursday, six months after a controversial reduction that pushed the utility into the red. The government had forced a 20 percent price cut on the CEB in January, despite fears that it would cause the government-owned company to lose money and undermine the national budget. Ensuring cost-recovery and doing away with subsidies is in line with the conditions set by the International Monetary Fund, which granted a four-year, $2.9 billion loan to help salvage Sri Lanka's economy. The country had declared bankruptcy after defaulting on its $46 billion foreign debt in April 2022, having run out of foreign exchange to finance even the most essential imports, such as food, fuel and medicines. Months of protests over shortages led to the toppling of then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in July 2022. His successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, secured the IMF bailout and proceeded to cut subsidies and raise taxes. Wickremesinghe lost the September election, but his successor, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, is pushing ahead with the IMF-backed reforms. Inflation, which peaked at nearly 70 percent in September 2022, has dropped sharply, and the country has been experiencing deflation since September. The IMF says Sri Lanka is slowly emerging from its worst meltdown and that the economy has turned around, although risks remain.
