Ada Derana

Highly Factual

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, who is currently in remand custody, is scheduled to be produced before the Matara Magistrate’s Court again today (20). It has been reported that the Matara Magistrate is set to deliver the verdict on Deshabandu Tennakoon’s bail application at 2:00 p.m. today. Tennakoon, who was subject to an arrest warrant in connection with a shooting incident near a hotel in the Pelena area of Weligama in 2023, surrendered to the court by submitting a motion yesterday (19) after absconding for 20 days. Following his surrender, the Matara Magistrate ordered that the suspect be remanded until today. In compliance with this order, Tennakoon was transferred to Angunakolapelessa Prison under special security last afternoon (19), according to prison sources.

Daily Mirror

Highly Factual

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon was remanded until tomorrow (20) following his appearance before the Matara Magistrate’s Court this morning (19).

Ada Derana

Highly Factual

The former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon has appeared before the Matara Magistrate’s Court this morning (19), sources told Ada Derana. The Matara Magistrate’s Court had previously ordered the arrest of eight former officers of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), including former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, and named them as suspects in the shooting incident that occurred in front of the W15 Hotel in the Pelena area of Weligama, Matara, on December 31, 2023. Following this, the CID was instructed to arrest and present the eight individuals, including former Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, before the court. Meanwhile, police investigations were ongoing to locate Tennakoon, who had been evading arrest for several days. On March 17, the Court of Appeal dismissed the writ petition filed by Tennakoon, in which he sought an interim injunction to prevent the execution of the arrest order issued by the Matara Magistrate’s Court in connection with the shooting incident. Subsequently, the Court of Appeal ordered the CID to take immediate steps to arrest and present Tennakoon before the court. The ruling was delivered by the Court of Appeal bench, comprising Acting President of the Court of Appeal Mohamed Lafar Tahir and Justice Sarath Dissanayake, who announced that the petition would be dismissed without a hearing. The petition had been taken up for consideration on March 12, during which Tennakoon’s legal representatives requested an interim injunction to stay the arrest warrant issued against him. Meanwhile, Tennakoon’s legal representative submitted a motion yesterday to the Court of Appeal regarding the petition, requesting permission to submit additional documents related to the case. This motion was filed ahead of the appeal decision on his writ petition. Additionally, an agreement was reached between the Attorney General (AG) and the legal counsel of the suspects implicated in the 2023 shooting incident near a hotel in Weligama. In this regard, the AG issued a special notice on March 16 regarding the order to arrest Tennakoon and six other suspects in connection with the incident. As per the agreement, the AG directed the CID not to arrest the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) and five other accused individuals, excluding Tennakoon, who was wanted in connection with the incident and had been absconding. Meanwhile, following former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon’s appearance before the court, the case regarding the 2023 shooting near the W15 Hotel in Weligama will be taken up this afternoon before the Matara Magistrate’s Court.

Daily Mirror

Highly Factual

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana Colombo, March 19 (Daily Mirror) - Some 795 foreign liquor bottles and 214 wine bottles were found at IGP Deshabandu Thennekoon's residence, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today. He said two mobile phones were also recovered in the search operation. "We will be able to find important information from these phones," the Minister said.

Ada Derana

Highly Factual

The Department of Prisons has stated that it will review the request made by suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandhu Tennakoon, who is currently remanded in custody, to receive meals from home during his time in custody. Prisons Media Spokesperson, Prisons Commissioner Gamini B. Dissanayake, confirmed that Tennakoon has formally requested permission to have food brought from his residence. The department has instructed him to provide valid reasons to support his request. Dissanayake said that once the necessary justifications are submitted, the prison authorities will assess the feasibility of allowing him to receive home-cooked meals and take appropriate action accordingly. Tennakoon, who was wanted in connection with a shooting incident outside a hotel in Weligama, surrendered to the Matara Magistrate’s Court 20 days after an arrest warrant was issued against him. He was subsequently remanded until April 3 and is currently being held at the Dumbara Prison.

Daily Mirror

Highly Factual

Colombo, March 20 (Daily Mirror) - Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon was further remanded till April 3 by the Matara Magistrate today. Deshabandu was remanded until today following his appearance before the Matara Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning.

Daily Mirror

Factual

Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have recorded statements from the wife and son of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, who is currently evading court proceedings. According to sources, the CID visited Tennakoon’s residence in Hokandara to gather information from his family members. Earlier, an open arrest warrant was issued by the Matara Magistrate’s Court, directing authorities to immediately arrest Tennakoon wherever he is found and to produce him before court. Meanwhile, police investigations are continuing to locate the former IGP.

Daily Mirror

Low Factuality

Colombo, March 20 (Daily Mirror) - Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peeris yesterday informed the Matara Magistrate’s Court that Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon is a more dangerous organized criminal than Harak Kata and Makandure Madush. Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peeris appearing for prosecution said that Deshabandu Tennakoon has extensively misused his power for personal gains while serving in the Police Department. "He has been living in society like a ghost. He is worse than organized criminals like ‘Harak Kata’ and ‘Makandure Madush.’ He has misused his power extensively. Therefore, we request that he be remanded without bail until investigations are complete,” Peeris stated. The Matara Chief Magistrate ordered the remanding of Deshabandu Tennakoon until today (20) after he surrendered before the court. Tennakoon, who had evaded law enforcement for nearly three weeks, appeared before the Matara Magistrate’s Court earlier yesterday. Addressing the court, Additional Solicitor General Peeris stated: “Your Honor, for the past 20 days, authorities have been searching for this individual. Yet, he has managed to evade capture and suddenly appears before this court without anyone noticing. This must be investigated. He is unfit even for the rank of a police constable, let alone the position of IGP. This is an insult to police officers," Peeris said. Peeris further informed court that investigations have revealed that Deshabandu Tennakoon owns eight houses, and his name has not appeared in the electoral register since 2020. President’s Counsel Shanaka Ranasinghe who appeared for Tennakoon sought for his client be released on bail. After reviewing the submissions, Magistrate Arun Indrajith Buddhadasa stated that a decision regarding bail would be announced on March 20. Accordingly, The Former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Deshabandu Tennakoon, was remanded till March 20, pending a decision on his bail application.

Ada Derana

Factual

Minister of Public Security, Ananda Wijepala, made a special statement in Parliament today (19) regarding former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, who surrendered to court this morning. The Minister confirmed that Tennakoon, who had been evading police for several days and was under significant national attention, has surrendered to the Matara Court. Minister Wijepala also informed Parliament that a team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had inspected Tennakoon’s residence in Hokandara yesterday (18). During the inspection, a total of 1,009 bottles of liquor, including 795 foreign liquor bottles and 214 wine bottles, were discovered. In addition, a pistol-type weapon, suspected to be Tennakoon’s firearm, and two new mobile phones were seized from the house, he said. The Minister further stated that a large amount of information would likely be revealed through the mobile phones. Minister Wijepala concluded by mentioning that they intend to report facts to the courts in this regard in the future.

Daily Mirror

Highly Factual

Matara, March 19 (Daily Mirror) - Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon has surrendered to the Matara Magistrate's Court this morning. The Court had previously issued arrest warrants for eight former officers of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), including Tennakoon, in connection with a shooting incident that took place in front of the W15 Hotel in the Pelena area of Weligama, Matara, on December 31, 2023. On Monday, the Court of Appeal dismissed the writ petition filed by Deshabandu Tennakoon, seeking an interim injunction to prevent the execution of the arrest order issued by the Matara Magistrate’s Court against him in connection with the shooting incident.