After IGP, N.K.Ilankakone went on retirement; the President has recommended names of three Senior
DIGs for the post of new IGP to the constitutional Council. In the meantime, he has appointed Senior
DIG, S.M.Wickremasinghe as the Acting IGP pending selection and appointment of the new IGP by
Constitutional Council and President respectively.
Senior DIG,Wickremasinghe functioned as the Head of the Presidential Security Section during Mahinda
Rajapakshe was in power and as well as for president Maithreepala .On being appointed as the Acting
IGP, he said to have been thinking that the constitutional Council would select him. Tacit support of the
Joint opposition was there for Wickremasinghe. Joint opposition adapted various modus operandi to see
D.I.G.Wickremasinghe as new IGP. But the President being a silent revolutionist didn’t interfere in
selection of the IGP by the constitutional council.
The Constitutional Council exercised their independence and unanimously selected Senior DIG, Pujith
Jeyasundara and recommended his name to the President. In turn President Maithree appointed Pujith
Jeyasundara as the 34th Inspector General of Police.
A few in the so called joint opposition made a hue and cry about the appointment of Pujith Jeyasundara
as the new IGP. Senior DIG, Wickremasighe too appears to have been disappointed and frustrated. He is
reported to have submitted his resignation from the post of DIG to the Police Department with copies to
the Secretary to the Defence, the President and the Prime Minister.
