May 19, Colombo (LNW): A formal inquiry into alleged misconduct and abuse of authority by Sri Lanka’s suspended Inspector General of Police, Deshabandu Tennakoon, is set to begin this afternoon (19).
Tennakoon has been summoned to appear before the inquiry committee at 2:00 p.m. in Committee Room No. 8 at the Parliamentary Complex, the Parliament Secretariat disclosed.
This marks his initial appearance before the panel, following weeks of background work by investigators.
The inquiry committee—tasked with examining serious accusations surrounding Tennakoon’s conduct during his tenure as IGP—has already undertaken a series of preliminary deliberations behind closed doors.
These discussions included internal assessments of the alleged infractions, and the gathering of relevant documentation, before extending a formal notice to Tennakoon earlier this month.
The inquiry follows growing public and institutional pressure to address concerns over alleged high-level misconduct within the country’s police force, a topic that has generated significant attention in both legal and political circles.
The investigative panel is chaired by Supreme Court Justice P.P. Surasena and includes Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawala as well as Mr. E.W.M. Lalith Ekanayake, who serves ex officio as Chairman of the National Police Commission.
The inclusion of senior members from both the judiciary and independent police oversight signals the government’s intention to conduct the inquiry with a degree of impartiality and legal rigour.
At its last meeting on May 15, the committee held discussions to finalise its approach, with particular emphasis on the scope of questioning and evidence collection. The inquiry is expected to examine a range of allegations, though precise details of the charges against Tennakoon have not been made public in full.
