Illangakoon is due to retire on April 12 upon reaching 60 years of age.

Wickremesinghe is reportedly to succeed Illangakoon as the next police chief.

He is vying for the post with senior DIG Pujith Jayasundara.

They joined the police department as ASPs on the same day, and got promoted SP, SSP and DIG on the same day as well.

Both hail from Kurunegala and have previously served as the acting IGP.

Wickremasinghe is the chief bodyguard of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and a close friend of incumbent Maithripala Sirisena too.