Four days after the Matara Chief Magistrate issued an order to arrest suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, police have been unable to locate him.

Reports indicate that multiple police teams have searched more than 20 locations, including places Tennakoon frequently visited in Colombo, Giriulla, Galle, Matara, Kandy, and Hantana. However, his whereabouts remain unknown.

The Matara Magistrate’s Court has ordered the arrest of six suspects, including Tennakoon, in connection with a shooting incident near the W15 Hotel in Palana, Weligama, on 31 December 2023. The court also imposed a foreign travel ban on Tennakoon.

Legal proceedings under case number 6314/23 accuse Tennakoon, along with Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) OIC Anselm de Silva and others, of conspiracy to commit murder.

The shooting occurred during a police raid, resulting in the death of a Police Sergeant attached to the CCD and injuries to another officer. The incident unfolded in the early hours of 31 December when Weligama Police pursued a van linked to the attack, leading to an exchange of gunfire.