Suspended IGP Deshabandu Thennakoon

Suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Thennakoon, who had been evading arrest yesterday surrendered to the Matara Magistrate’s Court and following his appearance, the Court ordered his remand till today (20).

Thennakoon was among eight Police officers, including former officers of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), named as main suspects in the shooting incident that took place in front of the W15 Hotel in the Pelena area of

Weligama, Matara on 31 December 2023.

Following the fugitive IGP’s appearance in Court yesterday, the case regarding the 2023 Weligama shooting was taken up before the Matara Magistrate’s Court through a motion in the afternoon. Further legal proceedings and decisions regarding his remand are expected today (20).

On 28 February, the Matara Magistrate’s Court initially ordered the arrest of the above-mentioned suspects for being charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

However, on 6 March Sri Lanka Police announced that Thennakoon cannot be located and is evading arrest. Thereafter, the Matara Magistrate’s Court on 11 March issued an open warrant against the suspended IGP following the request from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The CID also informed the Matara Magistrate’s Court that 10 suspicious locations across the country had been inspected, and intelligence officers had been deployed to 18 other locations in an effort to arrest the suspended IGP.

On 10 March, Thennakoon filed a writ petition with the Court of Appeal, seeking an order to prevent his arrest. The petition, filed through his legal representatives, requested that an interim injunction be issued to stay the arrest warrant issued against him by the Matara Magistrate’s Court.

The Court of Appeal on Monday (17) dismissed the writ petition filed by the suspended IGP, which sought to overturn the arrest order issued on him by the Matara Magistrate’s Court.