Suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon Surrenders After 20 Days – But What Took So Long?

 

After an extended game of cat and mouse, suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon finally surrendered to the Matara Magistrate’s Court today. His decision to turn himself in comes after 20 days of evading authorities—despite a clear court warrant for his arrest.

Law Enforcement or Law Evasion?

For nearly three weeks, the government and law enforcement agencies appeared utterly powerless to track down one of their own. Despite public outrage and a supposed nationwide search, Tennakoon managed to remain elusive—raising serious questions about the efficiency (or willingness) of the system tasked with bringing him to justice.

Even with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) making efforts to locate and seize his assets, the former police chief stayed off the radar. It was only after the CID raided his Hokandara residence on March 18 that he apparently had a change of heart.

A Surprising Collection at Home

The raid at Tennakoon’s residence led to some unexpected discoveries, including:

• 1,009 bottles of foreign liquor – because apparently, stocking up like a duty-free store is just normal.
• A firearm (pistol) – just in case.
• Two modern mobile phones – which, according to Public Security Minister Anandha Wijepala, contain potentially significant information.

The Minister, addressing Parliament, assured that these findings would be reported to the court. However, whether the government will act decisively on them remains to be seen.

A Government on Standby Mode?

Tennakoon’s case is yet another example of how justice in Sri Lanka appears to operate selectively. When ordinary citizens face arrest, the response is swift. But when it’s a high-ranking official? There are delays, searches, "investigations," and a long waiting game. The fact that Tennakoon could avoid arrest for nearly three weeks—despite a warrant—only highlights the government’s inability (or reluctance) to act against its own.

Now that he has finally surrendered, all eyes are on the judiciary. Will this case actually move forward, or will it be just another high-profile scandal that fades away?

Stay tuned—because in Sri Lanka, justice often moves at its own convenient pace.