Police Chief Deshabandu Tennakoon Remanded After Surrendering to Court

Police Chief Deshabandu Tennakoon, who surrendered to the court today, has been remanded in custody until tomorrow (March 20).

After evading arrest for 20 days, during which an open warrant was issued for his apprehension, the Police Chief surrendered to the Matara Magistrate's Court this morning. He did so through a motion presented by President's Counsel Shanaka Ranasinghe.

Minister of Public Security, Anand Wijepala, stated in Parliament that the Police Chief surrendered when a team of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers arrived at the Matara Magistrate's Court to obtain an order to freeze his assets.

On March 27, the Matara Magistrate's Court ordered the arrest and production of Police Chief Deshabandu Tennakoon and eight other suspects in connection with a conspiracy to commit murder in a shooting incident that occurred in front of a hotel in Weligama, Matara, on December 31, 2023.

However, the police failed to arrest Deshabandu Tennakoon for 20 days. Subsequently, on the 11th, following a request from the CID to the Matara Magistrate's Court, an open warrant was issued for his arrest.

There have also been previous news reports regarding the involvement of former Public Security Minister Tiran Alas in the incident for which Deshabandu Tennakoon was ordered to be arrested.