In a significant legal development, the Court of Appeal has ordered the immediate arrest and production of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon before the court. In response, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has intensified its search efforts by deploying four additional police teams, supplementing the six teams already in operation.
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal yesterday dismissed without hearing the writ petition filed by IGP Tennakoon. The court further reaffirmed its directive for his immediate arrest, aligning with the previous order issued by the Matara Magistrate’s Court.
The Matara Magistrate’s Court had, on February 27, ordered the arrest and production of eight individuals, including IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, in connection with a conspiracy to commit murder related to the shooting incident that occurred on December 31, 2023, in front of a hotel in the Weligama area.
Among the accused, Weligama Police Acting OIC Upul Kumara surrendered to the Matara Magistrate’s Court through his lawyer on March 4 and was subsequently granted bail.
Despite the arrest warrant being in effect for nearly three weeks, authorities have yet to locate IGP Tennakoon. In light of this, the CID recently recorded a statement from his wife at their residence in Hokandara as part of the ongoing investigation.
