A three-member bench of the Supreme Court ruled yesterday (10th) that the fundamental rights of Mrs. Bimshani Jasinghaarachchi, the Senior Superintendent of Police and the first female officer to serve as Acting Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Community Police Unit in Sri Lanka, had been violated.
As a result, the court directed the National Police Commission to reconsider her appointment as Acting DIG of the Community Police Unit, effective from October 5.
Mrs. Jasinghaarachchi was appointed Acting DIG of the Community Police Unit on December 14, 2020. However, after leaving her position to join a United Nations mission on June 15, 2023, she was not reinstated to her role upon returning to Sri Lanka. In her petition, she argued that the failure to allow her to resume her duties as Acting DIG constituted a violation of her fundamental rights.
The petition named 14 respondents, including the National Police Commission, the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security, and four Acting Deputy Inspectors General of Police.
The case was heard by Supreme Court Justices S. Thurairajah, Shiran Gunaratne, and Achala Vengappuli. Mrs. Jasinghaarachchi was represented by President’s Counsel Mr. Faiz Mustapha, along with attorney Shanta Jayawardena.
