The National Movement for Social Justice led by Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya says the National Police Commission heads have insulted the constitution by being party to the welcome of Basil Rajapaksa at BIA on his return to recently. The presence of NPC Chairman Chandra Fernando and a member has been heavily criticised by politicians and the public alike. 

Full text of the statement :

On 20 November the Chairman of the National Police Commission (NPC) along with another member was observed as being part of the group gathered to welcome Basil Rajapaksa, the national organiser of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna on his return to the island.

We strongly believe the parliament must immediately take note of their conduct on the day. The expectation in transforming all commissions into independent commissions including the NPC was that each of these institutions representing their respective fields was freed from politicisation. Accordingly, all members appointed to the commissions have been assigned this responsibility through the provisions of the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

However, the conduct of the Chairman and a member of the NPC in welcoming the national organiser of a political party in the country is clear proof of support and patronage for a particular political party leader. As a result of their behaviour, doubts have now arisen among the general public about certain decisions and measures taken by the NPC in the recent past. As a responsible civil society group, we have highlighted these concerns on previous occasions.

Therefore the actions of the two NPC officials have now managed to discredit the independence of the commission. In turn, the duo have also insulted the parliament of Sri Lanka which established independent commissions in the country.

Accordingly, it is our belief that the actions of the two officials must not be treated lightly nor ignored by any responsible party or institution. Therefore we call on the parliament to demonstrate its responsibility to the country by taking immediate action against them if they fail to step down from their positions in the current situation.