The Supreme Court today (29) granted permission to name former President Ranil Wickremesinghe as a respondent in the fundamental rights petition filed by the Youung Journalists’ Association of Sri Lanka (YJASL), challenging the appointment of Deshabandu Tennakoon as Inspector General of Police (IGP) as unconstitutional.

As Wickremesinghe is no longer in office, his presidential immunity has lapsed. President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris, representing the YJASL, requested the Supreme Court to allow him to be named as a respondent in the petition.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Preethi Padman Soorasena and Janak de Silva, ordered that Wickremesinghe be added as a respondent.

The YJASL filed this petition, alleging that Tennakoon's appointment as Inspector General of Police was unconstitutional. Previously, when this petition was heard along with seven others, the Supreme Court issued an interim order temporarily preventing Tennakoon from functioning as the IGP.

Additionally, the Court sought to determine whether the Attorney General, the Speaker and Tennakoon had violated fundamental rights in connection with the President’s decision.

President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris noted that since Wickremesinghe, who made the appointment, is no longer President, his immunity has ended, making it possible to name him as a respondent.

The YJASL filed the fundamental rights petition through attorney Manushika Cooray on behalf of Human Rights Law Chambers, with Peiris and attorney Manujaya de Silva appearing today on behalf of the petitioners.