February 24, Colombo (LNW): A former Inspector of Police, Jagath Nishantha, who had been evading arrest in connection with a controversial 2023 shooting in Weligama, was taken into custody yesterday (23) upon his return to Sri Lanka, police confirmed.
The arrest follows an earlier order issued by the Matara Magistrate’s Court directing authorities to detain eight former officers attached to the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), including former Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon, and to list them as suspects in the case.
The incident occurred on December 31, 2023 outside the W15 Hotel in the Pelena area of Weligama, Matara. Investigations have revealed that a team of CCD officers had travelled to the southern coastal town reportedly to apprehend individuals believed to have links to the organised crime figure Nadun Chinthaka Wickremeratne.
According to police accounts, officers dressed in civilian clothing came under fire from within the hotel premises, prompting them to return fire. In the ensuing confusion, a mobile patrol unit from the Weligama Police Station arrived at the scene and discharged their weapons at a van used by the CCD team, reportedly mistaking it for a vehicle carrying suspects.
The misunderstanding led to a chaotic exchange of gunfire. Although the van eventually departed the area, two CCD officers had already sustained serious injuries. One of them, Police Sergeant Upul Chaminda Kumara, aged 47, later died while undergoing treatment.
The shooting sparked widespread debate over inter-unit coordination, operational planning and communication failures within law enforcement. Authorities have indicated that further legal proceedings and internal reviews are ongoing as the investigation continues to unfold.