Government raises concerns over actions of IGP

The?Government today raised concerns over the recent actions of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara.

Cabinet spokesman Mahinda Samarasinghe and Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera said that appropriate action will be taken on the IGP if it is found that he was involved in any wrongdoing.

Jayasekera said that the National Police Commission will need to investigate the IGP and deal with him if allegations against him are true.

Meanwhile, Minister?Samarasinghe said that there was no truth to reports President Maithripala Sirisena was involved in the issue over the transfer of?Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officer?Nishantha Silva.

Asked about a letter circulating in the media quoting the IGP as saying?OIC Nishantha Silva was transferred on the instructions of the President,?Samarasinghe said that if there was such a letter then the matter will be investigated as the President had insisted he never issued such instructions.

The controversial transfer of the CID officer probing key incidents was cancelled this week.

The decision taken earlier to transfer CID, OIC Nishantha Silva drew strong objections.

OIC Nishantha Silva had been involved in the investigations into the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunga and attack on journalist Keith Noyahr and was also involved in the investigations into the abduction and disappearance of 11 youth in 2008.

Wickrematunga?s family and human rights groups had urged President Maithripala Sirisena to intervene and suspend the transfer.

However?Jayasekera said the transfer was cancelled by the IGP and not the President. (Colombo Gazette)