Five senior police officers, including the Inspector General of Police (IGP), appearing before the Supreme Court in person yesterday (16) stated that they regret unconditionally for delaying making arrangements following the court order, to pay the arrears of salary to former Sub-Inspector of Police, Sugath Mendis of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), who was suspended.
They stated that the implementation of the said court order was not carried out intentionally and it happened due to administrative delay.
This was stated when a motion submitted on behalf of Sugath Mendis, former Sub-Inspector of the CID, was taken up for hearing, complaining that the Inspector General of Police and other high officials had insulted the court by not following the order made on May 18 to pay arrears due to him.
This motion and the relevant fundamental rights petition was taken up for hearing in the presence of a bench of Supreme Court judges comprising Justice Priyantha Jayawardena, Justice S. Thurairajah and Justice Mahinda Samayawardena.
Representing the IGP and other respondents, Additional Solicitor General Nerine Pulle said that the delay in implementing the order issued by the Supreme Court was not done intentionally and that it was due to an administrative delay.
The Additional Solicitor General said that his clients express their unconditional regret to the Supreme Court regarding this.
The petitioner, police officer Sugath Mendis has been reinstated and he is serving at the Hikkaduwa Police station at present, the Additional Solicitor General said.
He said further that arrangements have been made to provide SI Sugath Mendis with all allowances due to him.