Matara Magistrate’s Court orders to remand Deshabandu till 3 April

 suspended IGP Deshabandu Thennakoon

• Orders legal action against accomplices  
• Discloses suspended IGP is being investigated under nine charges

The Matara Magistrate’s Court yesterday ordered the remand of suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Thennakoon till 3 April and directed authorities to take legal action against individuals who aided and abetted him in evading arrest till Wednesday (19). The ruling which contained 12 pages, issued by Magistrate Aruna Indrajith Buddhadasa follows a strong condemnation from the Court of Appeal regarding Thennakoon’s conduct and the submissions made by the Attorney General on Wednesday.

The Court disclosed that Thennakoon, who is the main suspect of the 2023 shooting incident in Weligama—is being investigated under nine charges, which include; 1) dereliction of duty as a Government employee, 2) using eight officers in an illegal assembly of criminal purposes, 3) shooting to intimidate and conspire to cause harm, 4) fabricating false evidence, 5) causing harm with fire or explosives, 6) criminal coercion, 7) causing death of Police officer through deliberate negligence, 8) causing damage to public property and 9) committing an offence with an automatic firearm.

Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris representing the complainant, requested the Court’s permission to record statements from the suspect while in remand and requested an order to investigate the mobile phone used by Thennakoon during his time in hiding.

He also said if there is a politician or official above the main suspect, Thennakoon, they should also be investigated and arrested immediately. The Additional Solicitor General noted that the investigating officers must conclude this investigation immediately, suggesting that some officers deliberately delay investigations leading to justice being obstructed. He also stated that the other six individuals named as suspects in this case would surrender to the Court today (21) by filing a motion.The Additional Solicitor General said that he will not appeal for this case in the future, but will provide necessary guidance and support to his junior Attorneys for the investigations. 

Thennakoon was among eight Police officers, including former officers of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), named as main suspect and was wanted over the shooting that resulted in the death of a CCD officer and injuries to another, with investigators alleging his involvement.

On 28 February, the Matara Magistrate’s Court initially ordered the arrest of the above-mentioned suspects for being charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Sri Lanka Police announced on 6 March that Thennakoon cannot be located and is evading arrest. Thereafter, the Matara Magistrate’s Court on 11 March issued an open warrant against the suspended IGP following the request from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

On 10 March, Thennakoon filed a writ petition through his legal representatives with the Court of Appeal, seeking an order to prevent his arrest. The petition requested that an interim injunction be issued to stay the arrest warrant issued against him by the Matara Magistrate’s Court.

On Wednesday, Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala informed the House that detectives from the CID have submitted a request to the Matara Magistrate’s Court to confiscate assets belonging to Thennakoon and coinciding with it—the fugitive IGP appeared in Court after evading arrest for over 20 days and the case was taken up before the Matara Magistrate’s Court through a motion on the same afternoon and was later remanded till yesterday.