Suspended Sri Lankan Police Chief Deshabandu Tennakoon Surrenders After Evasion

Deshabandu Tennakoon, suspended police chief of Sri Lanka, surrendered after evading arrest for over two weeks linked to a fatal police shooting. He is now in remand custody after losing an appeal to avoid arrest. His appointment and actions have raised significant legal concerns.

Deshabandu Tennakoon, the suspended inspector general of police in Sri Lanka, surrendered to authorities on March 19, 2025, following a two-week evasion of arrest linked to a shooting incident from 2023. He turned himself in at the magistrate’s court in Matara after losing an appeal to prevent his arrest. Currently, he is in remand for one day.

Tennakoon had been a fugitive since February 28 after the Magistrate’s court ordered his arrest for a December 2023 shooting incident involving police operations in Weligama. Under his command, officers from the Colombo Crime Division conducted a raid for illegal drugs; however, the Weligama police mistakenly opened fire, resulting in the death of an officer.

Following the court’s order, the police sought public assistance in locating Tennakoon and deployed six teams to pursue him. He has been suspended since July 2024, when the Supreme Court ordered a hearing regarding his appointment after concerns were raised about its legality.

Despite being found guilty of torturing a detainee in a previous ruling, he was appointed police chief in November 2023. An acting chief was designated in November 2024 due to Tennakoon’s ongoing legal issues. Recent police investigations included a search of his residence in Hokandara, which led to the seizure of over 1,200 bottles of foreign liquor and personal items, prompting complaints from his wife regarding the legality of the raid.

In summary, Deshabandu Tennakoon, the suspended police chief of Sri Lanka, has surrendered after evading arrest related to a shooting incident. His suspension followed a Supreme Court ruling, which called his appointment into question. The case highlights serious issues within law enforcement and will continue to unfold as investigations proceed.

Original Source: indianexpress.com