Venerable Wewelduwa Gnanaprabha Thero, the Chief Incumbent of Udawalawe Soma Viharaya, has filed a fundamental rights petition before the Supreme Court, seeking a ruling that the recommendation made by the Constitutional Council to appoint High Court Judge Ranga Dissanayake as the Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) is unlawful and should be nullified.
The petition challenges the legality of the appointment process, alleging that the Constitutional Council’s selection was not based on merit. The respondents in the case include the Speaker and members of the Constitutional Council, the Secretary to the President, the Commissioners of CIABOC, the Secretary to the Judicial Service Commission, and the Attorney General.
The petition, filed through Attorney-at-Law Sanjaya Fonseka, states that 16 candidates had applied for the Director General position and had been interviewed by the Constitutional Council. The petitioners claim that, based on available information, Deputy Solicitor General Madhava Tennakoon obtained the highest marks during the selection process. Despite this, the Council recommended High Court Judge Ranga Dissanayake for the position instead.
The petition further argues that this decision was arbitrary and unfair, violating the fundamental rights of the public. The petitioners request the Supreme Court to issue an order declaring the appointment null and void, ensuring that the selection process is transparent and fair.
As the case moves forward, it has sparked concerns over the credibility of high-level appointments in Sri Lanka’s legal and anti-corruption institutions, highlighting the need for greater accountability in governance.
