by Shamindra Ferdinando
The Police Commission has cleared SSPs Kingsley Ekanayake and Gamini Silva whose promotions to the rank of DIG were withheld last December pending investigations into their conduct by the Bribery Commission, officials said.

They were the first officers whose promotions were stayed by the Commission, headed by Ranjith Abeysuriya PC.

They were among seven SSPs picked by a five-member interview board headed by Interior Ministry Secretary M. N. Junaid at the November 9 interview. But their promotions were held up pending bribery investigations into anonymous petitions. "They have been exonerated," a senior headquarters spokesman said, adding that another SSP under investigation was expected to be cleared soon.

Subsequent to the Police Commission clearance communicated to police headquarters early this week, the two officers were promoted to the rank of DIG with effect from December 1, last year. Ekanayake has been named DIG in charge of Sabaragamuwa. Silva has been appointed DIG Personnel.

Headquarters said that the total number of DIGs rose to 41 with the latest promotions. The sources placed the number of senior DIGs at 5.

The Police Commission also made three acting appointments in the context of three selected officers having to await disposal of bribery investigations against them. They are Messrs J. Thangavelu in charge of the Legal Division, K. D. N. J. Wijesinghe and B. M. Premaratne. They were subsequently given permanent appointments, the sources said, adding that Premaratne retired recently.

Three SSPs, Mahinda Beddewella, Lalith Gunasekera and Raja Weerakoon who were placed 11th, 12th and 14th at the November 9 interview were promoted DIGs on a Supreme Court order subsequent to their petitioning the court. SSP Ariyaratne placed 13th at the November 9 interview was also promoted although he did not go to SC, the sources said, adding that Gunasekera retired in April while Weerakoon will quit in June.