The term of office of the National Police Commission (NPC) officially ended on May 15, but the current commissioners will remain in their positions and continue their duties until a successor commission is appointed, the Ministry of Public Security said.
The outgoing commission was established in 2023 following the guidelines of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. It has been led by its Chairman, retired High Court Judge Lalith Ekanayake.
The Ministry said the process to appoint new members will begin once the Constitutional Council convenes under the leadership of the Speaker of Parliament. The Council is the constitutional body responsible for recommending appointees to independent commissions, including the NPC, the Election Commission, the Judicial Service Commission, the Human Rights Commission and others.
The expiry comes at a sensitive moment for police governance. The NPC ratified major transfers of three Deputy Inspectors General earlier this month and has been the central body handling promotions, transfers and disciplinary matters across the police service during the post-21st-Amendment cycle.
Parliament resumes sittings on May 19, and the Constitutional Council’s nominations are expected to feature in upcoming political discussions. No timetable for the new appointments has been published.
