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OIC appointments only per experience and qualifications 

09 Feb 2022

  • Public Security Ministry to stand ground on pressure from various quarters including local politicos
 BY Buddhika Samaraweera The Public Security Ministry informed that despite various requests made from certain quarters with regard to appointing officers in charge (OICs) of police stations, the Public Security Ministry always makes appointments of persons with the required experience and qualifications. It has been reported in the recent past that there are various pressures from certain quarters such as local politicians when appointing OICs. However, when contacted by The Morning yesterday (8), Public Security Ministry Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Jagath Alwis said that despite certain requests from such parties, the OICs are appointed on the recommendation of the Inspector General of Police (IGP). He further said that the relevant appointments are always being made following the prescribed procedure. “In order to be appointed as an OIC, the relevant police officer should be a senior officer. He should have some particular qualifications too. The IGP recommends only the police officers who have fulfilled such experience and qualifications. Based on the IGP’s recommendation only OICs are appointed,” he added. Speaking further, Alwis said that since anyone would like to have an OIC they know act as the OIC of their area, for such reasons, certain individuals including local politicians are making requests for the appointment of OICs. However, the Public Security Ministry would always make appointments of the right people, not according to such requests, and only according to the due process, he added. In September 2021, a problematic situation arose between Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Retd.) Dr. Sarath Weerasekera and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Government Parliamentarian Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi regarding the appointment of an OIC to the Padukka Police Station. Charging that Weerasekera’s appointment of a new OIC to the Padukka Police Station was politically motivated, and that the latter was a close associate of Power Minister Gamini Lokuge, Sumithraarachchi resigned from his post as the Padukka Regional Co-ordinating Committee Chairman in protest. “The OIC of the Padukka Police Station has been transferred and replaced by a close associate of Lokuge. This transfer has been made by Weerasekera with the intervention of Lokuge, and at the request of the Padukka SLPP electoral organiser,” Sumithraarachchi claimed, when contacted by The Morning for comment at that time.


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