March 13, Colombo (LNW): In a startling development, the Attorney General’s Department informed the Court of Appeal yesterday (12) that former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon had been running a criminal network, allegedly exploiting police officers under his command for unlawful activities.
During the proceedings of Tennakoon’s petition to prevent his arrest, Additional Solicitor General Dilipa Peiris presented shocking details that implicated the police chief in orchestrating an attack on the W15 Hotel in Weligama.
According to Peiris, the assault, which resulted in the tragic death of a police sergeant, was not a random act of violence but rather linked to a personal vendetta between Tennakoon and the hotel’s owner.
Peiris went on to accuse Tennakoon of using officers from the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) to target individuals and settle private disputes, essentially turning law enforcement officers into a “paramilitary force” for personal gain.
The shocking claims suggest that the IGP had employed the resources of the police force not for official duties but to pursue his own interests and settle scores outside of the law.
The Additional Solicitor General also disclosed that Tennakoon had been evading arrest since February 27, with law enforcement authorities intensifying their search for him.
This revelation has raised serious questions about the extent of corruption within the highest echelons of the police force, as well as the abuse of power by senior officials.
The Court of Appeal is scheduled to make its ruling on Tennakoon’s petition on March 17, with the legal community and public eagerly awaiting the decision.
