Ada Derana

Highly Factual

The Prisons Department has taken measures to provide special security to former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, who is currently being held in a secure cell at Dumbara Prison in Pallekele. According to the department, the decision to enhance security was made in compliance with court orders. Former IGP Tennakoon was initially remanded for a day after being produced before the Matara Magistrate’s Court. He was then presented in court again the following day, where the magistrate ordered his remand until April 3. He has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) officer near a hotel in Weligama, Matara, on December 31, 2023.

Ada Derana

Highly Factual

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon has reportedly been taken to the maximum security prison in Angunakolapelessa. He has been detained in a normal ward at the prison, according to prison sources. Tennakoon, who appeared before the Matara Magistrate’s Court this morning, has been ordered remanded until tomorrow (20) by the court. He had surrendered to the Matara Magistrate’s Court earlier today after evading arrest for nearly 20 days. Matara Magistrate’s Court had previously ordered the arrest of eight police officers including former officers of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) and 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.

Ada Derana

Highly Factual

The former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, who appeared before the Matara Magistrate’s Court this morning, has been ordered remanded until tomorrow (20) by the court. Tennakoon had surrendered to the Matara Magistrate’s Court earlier today after evading arrest for nearly 20 days. The Matara Magistrate’s Court had previously ordered the arrest of eight police officers including former officers of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) and 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 Deshabandu Tennakoon, before the court. However, CID teams were unable to locate the former police chief, 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. 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, it was reported that 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 this morning, the case regarding the 2023 shooting near the W15 Hotel in Weligama was taken up before the Matara Magistrate’s Court through a motion this afternoon.

Ada Derana

Highly Factual

The former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Deshabandu Tennakoon has been ordered to be further remanded until April 03 by the Matara Magistrate’s Court. 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 evading arrest nearly 20 days. Following his surrender, the Matara Magistrate ordered that he be remanded until today (20). In compliance with this order, Tennakoon was transferred to Angunakolapelessa Prison under special security last evening (19), according to prison sources. The Matara Magistrate’s Court had previously issued an arrest order for eight police officers, including former officers of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) and former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, naming 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 Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was instructed to arrest and present the eight individuals, including Deshabandu Tennakoon, before the court. However, CID teams were unable to locate the former police chief, 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. The Court of Appeal subsequently directed the CID to take immediate steps to arrest Tennakoon and present him before the court. Additionally, it was reported that an agreement was reached between the Attorney General (AG) and the legal counsel of the suspects implicated in the 2023 shooting incident near the hotel in Weligama. In this regard, the AG issued a special notice on March 16 concerning the order to arrest Tennakoon and six other suspects in connection with the incident. As per the agreement, the AG instructed the CID not to arrest the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) and five other accused individuals, excluding Tennakoon, who had been absconding and was wanted in connection with the incident.