President Ranil Wickremesinghe has accepted the resignation of Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne and will appoint his successor this coming week, The Sunday Morning learns.

Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles yesterday (18) confirmed to The Sunday Morning that IGP Wickramaratne’s resignation from the post had been accepted by the President.  

“Now the President will have to nominate a senior Police officer to the Constitutional Council, which in turn will have to approve it,” he said, adding that a new IGP would be appointed next week.

The Minister stated that he was not aware of who had been shortlisted for the post of IGP while acknowledging that Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Deshabandu Tennakoon was among the options.

“There are many senior Police officers who want to be the IGP. I’m not aware,” he added, commenting on whether there was a shortlist of suitable candidates.

Speculation was rife last week over the new appointment, with reports indicating that Western Province SDIG Deshabandu Tennakoon, who has allegations of human rights violations and abuse of power levelled against him, is a forerunner to become the next IGP for the Sri Lanka Police.

Outgoing IGP Wickramaratne’s tenure will end this coming Sunday (26).