NPC rearing to go

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

After three years, the National Police Commission (NPC) is ready to ensure justice to the public, its chairman Senaka Walagampaya told the media at the NPC's first meeting yesterday.

“Any one from the civil society can complain to the commission when they are subjected to an unfair judgment from the police,” he said.

The NCP established in 2002 under the 17th Amendment to the Constitution ceased functioning in 2009.

The commission has a backlog of about 2,000 complaints, Walagampaya said. The President has restarted the NPC under the 18th Amendment to the Constitution as one of the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, he said.

“We make policies and regulations to address grievances by the public against police officers and the police service,” commission member R Sivaraman said.

NCP offices will be setup in all provinces including the North and East.

The other members of the commission are Ven Alle Gunawasna thera, former ITN chairman Newton Gunaratne, D Dissanayake, Charmaine Madurusinghe and M M A Mowjood.