March 01, Colombo (LNW): The Matara Magistrate’s Court has issued a travel ban on former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Deshabandu Tennakoon, at the request of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
The decision follows a series of developments connected to the investigation into a shooting incident that occurred on December 31, 2023, in front of the W15 Hotel in Weligama, Matara.
The CID’s request for the travel restriction comes after it was revealed that, despite conducting searches at Tennakoon’s residences in Hokandara and Giriulla, investigators were unable to locate him.
As a result, the court imposed the ban to ensure Tennakoon’s availability for ongoing legal proceedings.
Earlier, on February 27, the Matara Magistrate’s Court had ordered the arrest of eight individuals, including former officers from the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), as well as the former IGP, Tennakoon.
These individuals are to be named as suspects in the case, which centres around the shooting incident in Weligama that left one police officer dead and others injured.
Police spokesperson SSP Buddhika Manatunga explained that the incident began when a team of CCD officers, acting under orders to arrest associates of notorious underworld figure Nadun Chinthaka Wickremaratne (alias ‘Harak Kata’), were confronted by gunfire while inside the W15 Hotel in Weligama.
The officers, who were in civilian clothing, were reportedly attacked from within the hotel, prompting them to return fire in self-defence.
However, confusion ensued when a mobile patrol vehicle from the Weligama Police Station arrived at the scene and, mistaking the van carrying the CCD officers for a criminal vehicle, opened fire on them.
As a result, two CCD officers sustained injuries, one of whom, 47-year-old Police Sergeant Upul Chaminda Kumara, later died in hospital from gunshot wounds.
An inquest into the shooting was conducted by the Matara Chief Magistrate’s Court, and on Thursday, February 27, the court instructed the CID to arrest and present the eight suspects, including Tennakoon, before the court.
The investigation has brought attention to the unlawful deployment of the CCD officers in the Weligama area, which led to the deadly altercation.
