According to the Constitution, the President is the appointing authority. Mr. C. D. Wickramaratne who served in the post for an extended period retired recently. Earlier, there were reports that the appointment of the IGP was delayed because of differences between the President and the minister on the proposed name.

Once the President makes the appointment, it has to be approved by the Constitutional Council, a body headed by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa are also its members. It is a ten-member body including three from civil society.

An informed source said the President and the minister had agreed on the proposed appointment. It is speculated in political circles that Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon is likely to be picked for the post.

DM