The Constitutional Council of Sri Lanka has approved President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s nomination of Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya as the nation’s 37th IGP. Weerasooriya has been serving in an acting capacity since November 2023 and will formally assume the position following the Council’s endorsement at a session presided over by Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne.

 

 

This appointment comes after the historic parliamentary removal of Deshabandu Tennakoon, marking the first time in Sri Lanka’s history that a serving IGP was dismissed through a legislative vote.An officer with decades of service, Weerasooriya is expected to spearhead reforms enhancing operational efficiency, public trust, and tackling organized crime.

 

 

The Constitutional Council plays a critical role in vetting and approving senior appointments across Sri Lanka’s judiciary, diplomatic corps, and top civil service positions.