Senior DIG in charge of the Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon has been on leave for 14 days from today.
A police order signed by IGP Mr. C. D. Wickramaratne states that DIG Jagath Palihakkara, who is on duty as the Senior DIG in charge of Community Police and Environment, will be appointed as the Senior DIG in charge of the Western Province until Deshabandu Tennakoon returns to work after completing his leave.
Deshabandu Tennakoon has been named as a suspect in the attack on the Galle Face protesters on the 9th. The court has also imposed a travel ban on him.
The Attorney General had requested the IGP to transfer Deshabandu Tennakoon from the Western Province so as not to affect the witnesses as most of the witnesses are from the Western Province. However, it has not been fulfilled yet and last week the Colombo Fort Magistrate summoned the IGP to court for giving reasons about that. Accordingly, the IGP is scheduled to appear before the court tomorrow, police sources said.