Former President of the Bar Association, Saliya Peiris, PC, yesterday (15) said that the government couldn’t under any circumstances turn a blind eye to the Supreme Court ruling pertaining to a fundamental rights case.

The President’s Counsel said so when The Island sought his response to the SC ordering Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, and three other police officers, to pay Rs. 2 million in compensation out of their personal funds to a petitioner, identified as W. Ranjith Sumangala, for violating his fundamental rights, while being detained at the Mirihana Police Station.

Peiris emphasised: “Ordinary police officers are denied their promotions when there are fundamental rights applications pending against them. If they are found responsible that is considered a blemish. There is no reason why the State should not demand the same standards from the acting IGP.”

The judgment was delivered by Justice S. Thurairaja with Justices Kumudini Wickremasinghe and Priyantha Fernando agreeing.

The PC said that the Constitutional Council (CC) should look into this matter as soon as possible. Sources said that the CC, headed by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena ,was not expected to meet before January 02, 2024, though in case of an emergency, the council could be summoned.

The SC held that four police officers, including Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, had violated the fundamental rights of petitioner Sumangala by arresting and detaining him illegally and torturing him at the Mirihana Police Station, which was under the supervision of Deshabandu Tennakoon in 2011.

A person named Ajith Wanasundera, involved in the incident, was also held liable and ordered to pay compensation.The SC ordered the State to pay a compensation of Rs.100,000 to the petitioner. The Supreme Court ordered the National Police Commission to take disciplinary action against Tennakoon and the other police officers faulted by the highest court. (SF)