Ada Derana

Highly Factual

The six officers of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) charged in connection with the shooting incident at a hotel in Weligama, Matara, have surrendered to the Matara Magistrate’s Court today (21) through a motion. The Matara Magistrate’s Court had issued an arrest order on February 27 for these officers, including the then Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, in connection with the incident. However, as Tennakoon had evaded arrest, the Attorney General instructed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) not to arrest these officers, including the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the CCD, until the completion of preliminary investigations. This decision was made based on an agreement reached at the Court of Appeal. Deshabandu Tennakoon, who was suspended from his post as IGP, surrendered to the Matara Magistrate’s Court on the morning of March 19, after evading arrest for 20 days. The shooting incident in 2023 resulted in the death of a police sergeant from the CCD, and the Matara Magistrate’s Court is proceeding with the case based on this incident.

Ada Derana

Factual

An agreement has been reached between the Attorney General (AG) and the legal counsels of the suspects implicated in the 2023 shooting incident near a hotel in Weligama. In this regard, the AG has issued a special notice today (16) regarding the order to arrest former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon and six other suspects in connection with the incident. Accordingly, based on the agreement reached, the AG has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) not to arrest the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) and five other accused, excluding the former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, who is wanted in connection with the incident and is currently absconding. The Police Media Division stated that the AG has instructed that the statements of these individuals be recorded once they appear before the CID. The Matara Magistrate’s Court has ordered the arrest of 8 former officers of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), including former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, and to name them as suspects in the shooting incident that took place in front of the W15 Hotel in the Pelena area of Weligama, Matara on December 31, 2023. Following this, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had been instructed to arrest and produce the eight individuals, including former Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, before the court. CID directed not to arrest OIC of CCD and 5 others over 2023 Weligama shooting by Adaderana Online on Scribd

Ada Derana

Highly Factual

The six police officers attached to the Colombo Crime Division (CCD), who surrendered to the Matara Magistrate’s Court over the shooting incident in front of a hotel at Weligama in Matara, have been granted bail by the court. The suspects were each ordered released on two surety bails of Rs. 200,000 while they were also ordered to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) tomorrow to record statements. The six CCD officers of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) had surrendered to the Matara Magistrate’s Court today (21) through a motion. The Matara Magistrate’s Court on February 27 had issued an arrest order for these officers in question as well as the former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon. However, as Tennakoon had evaded arrest, the Attorney General instructed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) not to arrest these officers, including the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the CCD, until the completion of preliminary investigations. This decision was made based on an agreement reached at the Court of Appeal between the AG’s Department and the legal counsels of the accused. Deshabandu Tennakoon, who was suspended from his post as IGP, surrendered to the Matara Magistrate’s Court on the morning of March 19, after evading arrest for nearly 20 days. The shooting incident on December 31, 2023 resulted in the death of a police sergeant attached to the CCD, and the Matara Magistrate’s Court is proceeding with the case based on this incident.

Daily Mirror

Factual

Colombo, March 21 (Daily Mirror) - Six police officers from the Colombo Crime Division (CCD), who surrendered to the Matara Magistrate’s Court in connection with a shooting incident in front of a hotel in Weligama, have been granted bail. The court ordered each suspect to be released on two surety bails of Rs. 200,000. The officers surrendered earlier today through a motion filed at the Matara Magistrate’s Court. The case remains under investigation.