The Supreme Court has scheduled hearings for nine Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions challenging the appointment of Deshabandu Tennakoon as Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The petitions argue that Tennakoon’s appointment, following his tenure as Senior DIG in charge of the Western Province, is unconstitutional.

A five-member Supreme Court bench—comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Yasantha Kodagoda, A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Shiran Gunaratne, and Achala Vengappuli—took up the case today (24).

President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, representing Tennakoon, informed the court that an interim injunction had been issued, preventing his client from performing IGP duties. He requested an expedited hearing of the petition.

After reviewing the submissions, the court scheduled hearings for 6, 7, and 8 May.

The petitioners include Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Young Journalists’ Association, and others, who argue that the Constitutional Council’s recommendation to appoint Tennakoon was unlawful. They seek a ruling that his appointment violates legal provisions.