May 02, Colombo (LNW): Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, who is currently under suspension, has appealed for personal protection following alleged threats to his life by organised crime networks.
The request, lodged in writing yesterday (01), was addressed to Acting Inspector General Priyantha Weerasuriya.
The appeal by Tennakoon, who is facing multiple controversies and legal challenges, comes against the backdrop of fresh intelligence pointing to threats from underworld operatives, including the fugitive gang leader known as “Kanjipani Imran”.
Imran is suspected to be coordinating criminal activity from abroad and is believed to have issued explicit threats against the suspended officer.
Tennakoon, who previously spearheaded several high-profile operations targeting narcotics traffickers and criminal syndicates, now finds himself exposed following the complete revocation of his official security. His vulnerability is reportedly heightened by the backlash from groups disrupted by his aggressive policing tactics during his tenure.
Security officials have confirmed that a threat assessment is currently underway to determine the severity of the risk. If authorities verify a credible threat, reinstatement of security measures is expected.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala, in remarks made to the reporters, confirmed that Tennakoon’s security was withdrawn after his suspension and during a period in which he had avoided arrest.
Nevertheless, Wijepala stated that any formal plea for renewed protection would be reviewed according to established protocol.
In a related development, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has commenced a formal probe into the reported threats. The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court was recently informed that detectives are actively investigating these claims, with judicial approval granted to question two suspects currently held at Boossa High Security Prison.
