August 07, Colombo (LNW): Retired Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Priyantha Jayakody, has been granted bail by the Kandy Magistrate’s Court following his recent arrest over allegations of filing a fabricated police complaint.
Jayakody was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on July 28, after claiming he had received death threats from a well-known underworld figure, Koralagamage Mandinu Padmasiri—better known by the alias ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’.
The complaint triggered an official investigation, but as inquiries progressed, CID officers reportedly uncovered evidence suggesting the threat may have been concocted by Jayakody himself.
Earlier, he was held on remand by order of the Mahara Magistrate’s Court, following a medical examination conducted while he was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Ragama. The court had ruled at the time that he be kept in custody until further proceedings could determine the veracity of his claims.
Investigators allege that the former high-ranking police officer fabricated the threat out of a desire to secure additional personal protection, possibly stemming from concerns over his own safety in retirement. Though no official motive has yet been confirmed in court, sources familiar with the case suggest Jayakody may have felt vulnerable due to past law enforcement actions involving criminal networks.
While the decision to grant bail allows Jayakody temporary release, the legal proceedings are far from over. The court has stipulated strict conditions for his release, and he is expected to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.
