In a move that has stirred controversy, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has chosen to reappoint the current Inspector-General of Police (IGP), C.D. Wickramaratne, despite the Constitutional Council's unanimous veto of the service extension granted last week.

The Constitutional Council, acting with a unified decision, rejected the third extension of tenure that had been granted to Wickramaratne. He originally assumed the role of IGP in November 2020, with his retirement from the police service scheduled for March 26, 2023.

President Wickremesinghe, however, had previously extended Wickramaratne's tenure on two occasions. The first extension occurred on March 26, and the second on July 09, both enacted through special gazette notifications.

The second extension reached its conclusion on October 09. Nonetheless, on October 13, IGP Wickramaratne was granted an additional service extension of 3 weeks.

Reports suggest that President Wickremesinghe, currently on an official visit to China, has issued instructions from Beijing to make the necessary arrangements for the reappointment of IGP Wickramaratne.

This decision has raised questions and debates about the extension of key positions and the authority of the Constitutional Council, as well as the role of the President in such appointments.