AAT Orders Promotion of Shani Abeysekara to DIG Rank

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) has ordered the promotion of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Director Shani Abeysekara to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG).

According to reports, the National Police Commission (NPC) was informed of the decision today (13).

The promotion will take effect from August 25, 2026. The tribunal has also directed that all salary arrears and allowances lost during the period of his suspension be paid.

Shani Abeysekara is widely regarded as one of the most prominent officers in the history of the CID, having led several complex and high-profile criminal investigations in recent years.

He was arrested in July 2020 and remained in remand custody for 11 months before being granted bail by the Court of Appeal.

Abeysekara was later reappointed as Director of the CID in 2024 under the provisions of Circular 3/2018.