News Today: Former IGP Tennakoon Accused of Running Paramilitary Team

Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, PC, representing the Attorney General, made shocking allegations against former Inspector General (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon. He claimed that Tennakoon had been operating a paramilitary team for personal agendas using public funds.

This revelation came during a hearing at the Court of Appeal, where Tennakoon filed a writ petition seeking a stay order against an arrest warrant issued by the Matara Magistrate. The Magistrate ordered his arrest in connection with the Weligama hotel shooting incident. The case was heard before a two-judge bench comprising Justice (Acting President) Mohamed Laffar and Justice Sarath Dissanayake.

Court Proceedings and Shocking Revelations

During the hearing, Peiris raised concerns about the Sri Lanka Police Department’s failure to locate its own IGP. He revealed that Tennakoon had been missing since February 27, along with his entire family. According to Peiris, on December 29, 2023, Tennakoon personally instructed the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) to conduct a raid in Weligama, which led to a shooting targeting the hotel owner.

The Court of Appeal has set March 17 as the date to deliver its ruling on whether to issue an interim order preventing Tennakoon’s arrest.

Defense Arguments

President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, representing Tennakoon, argued that the arrest order was issued in violation of legal provisions, without first recording a statement from his client. He further contended that the Police reports submitted to the Matara Magistrate’s Court could not be considered valid under Section 136(1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Code, making the entire process illegal.

However, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris countered that Tennakoon was the mastermind behind the Weligama hotel operation. He urged the Court to dismiss the petition due to Tennakoon’s failure to disclose crucial facts regarding the Magistrate’s proceedings.

Where is Tennakoon?

Justice Laffar questioned Tennakoon’s lawyer about his client’s whereabouts and whether he intended to surrender before the Magistrate. In response, Romesh de Silva, PC, stated that his client had no legal obligation to do so. He also pointed out discrepancies in Tennakoon’s name across different legal documents, raising further legal concerns.