Colombo – Parliament will today (Aug 5) debate a resolution to remove Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon from office, under Section 17 of the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act, No. 5 of 2002.

According to the Office of the Secretary-General of Parliament, the session will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the debate scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A vote is expected to take place at 4:00 p.m., with all ruling party MPs reportedly instructed to be present.

A simple majority of 113 MPs is required for the resolution to pass. If approved, the Speaker will officially announce the outcome, and the President will then nominate a new candidate for the post of IGP to the Constitutional Council.

The resolution follows findings by a Committee of Inquiry which, on July 22, concluded that IGP Tennakoon was guilty of all charges relating to gross abuse of power. The report was submitted to Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne last month and recommended Tennakoon’s removal.

This marks a historic moment, as it is the first time a sitting IGP has faced such a process under Sri Lanka’s Constitution. The Speaker has since ordered the report to be tabled in Parliament.

Meanwhile, Parliament will tomorrow (Aug 6) hold the second reading debate of the Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill, as well as a debate on regulations under the Tobacco Tax Act.