July 22, Colombo (LNW): Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandhu Tennakoon is facing imminent dismissal after an independent Committee of Inquiry concluded he was guilty of all charges relating to serious misconduct and the misuse of his authority.
The damning verdict marks an unprecedented moment in Sri Lanka’s legal and political history.
The announcement came at the opening of Parliament today (22), with Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne formally confirming receipt of the full findings from the inquiry panel.
The committee’s report recommended the immediate removal of Tennakoon from his role as head of the Sri Lanka Police, citing multiple acts of gross abuse of power, according to the Speaker.
The inquiry, which was convened under Section 5 of the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act, No. 5 of 2002, was chaired by Supreme Court Justice P.P. Surasena. The panel also included Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawala and E.W.M. Lalith Ekanayake, who currently serves as Chairman of the National Police Commission in an ex-officio capacity.
This marks the first time in Sri Lanka’s constitutional framework that a sitting Inspector General of Police has been found liable by a parliamentary-sanctioned committee and recommended for removal. The Speaker described the occasion as “historic” and noted that the parliamentary process now requires placing the committee’s findings in the form of a formal resolution, to be debated and voted on by Members of Parliament in the near future.
Wickramaratne also directed that the full report be tabled before Parliament and pledged to make the document accessible to the general public, citing a strong public interest and Parliament’s duty to transparency.
The committee’s recommendations follow a resolution passed by Parliament on April 04, 2025, which authorised the investigation into Tennakoon’s conduct under Sections 3(d) and 3(e) of the Removal of Officers Act. The charges levelled against him relate to serious breaches of duty, undermining the public trust in the nation’s police force.
