Ministers on collision course over police appointments

Vasu complains to President against Weerasekera

Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Retd) Sarath Weerasekera has said he finds it extremely difficult to accommodate requests from his ministerial colleagues and other MPs as regards the appointment of Officers-in-Charge of police stations.

Minister Weerasekera said so in response to Water Supply Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara’s complaint to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that Weerasekera had turned down his request that a certain officer be appointed the OIC of Kiriella police station.

The leader of the Democratic Left Front Nanayakkara raised the issue at the weekly Cabinet meeting. Both Nanayakkara and Pavitradevi Wanniarachchi sought to have an officer known to them appointed the OIC, Kiriella, well informed sources said.

Sources told The Island that Minister Weerasekera had incurred the wrath of several colleagues among the parliamentary group for declining their requests.  Responding to Nanayakkara’s criticism, Weerasekera has pointed out that he couldn’t deviate from a system that had been put in place to make such appointments. (SF)