Suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP), Deshabandu Tennakoon, has voluntarily surrendered to the Matara Magistrate’s Court today in connection with the 2023 shooting incident at the W15 Hotel in Weligama.
Tennakoon, who had been evading arrest, appeared before the court following an arrest warrant issued for him and eight former officers of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD).
The shooting, which took place on December 31, 2023, in front of the W15 Hotel, led to the issuance of arrest orders for the suspects involved. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was instructed to locate and arrest the individuals named in the case, including Tennakoon, who had been absconding.
Tennakoon attempted to block the arrest order by filing a writ petition with the Court of Appeal, seeking an injunction to suspend the warrant. However, on March 17, the Court of Appeal dismissed the petition, directing the CID to proceed with Tennakoon’s arrest. The decision, made without a hearing, came after the Court rejected Tennakoon’s request to delay the execution of the arrest order.
On March 16, the Attorney General (AG) issued a special notice clarifying Tennakoon as the primary suspect in the case, while also instructing the CID not to arrest the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the CCD and five other accused individuals. Tennakoon, however, remained the key target in the investigation.
With Tennakoon now in custody, the case is set to continue later this afternoon before the Matara Magistrate’s Court.
