Attorney Sanjaya Weerawickrama told the special parliament inquiry committee yesterday (17) that the period between the issuance of an arrest warrant for his client, suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon and his eventual arrest was spent in the company of President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva and others, including himself.
Weerawickrama made this statement while giving evidence before the committee appointed to investigate serious allegations that Tennakoon had abused the powers of his office.
Although Tennakoon was in hiding at the time, Weerawickrama insisted that he had not fled or evaded arrest. “My client has been accused of a serious offence—hiding from arrest. But he did not flee. He spent that time with President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, his legal team, and also with me,” he said.
At that point, Committee Chair and Supreme Court Justice Preethi Padman Soorasena cautioned, “Do not attempt to create evidence that does not exist.”
Meanwhile, Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya testified that Rs 1.5 million had been granted from the Police Reward Fund to the family of a police officer who was killed in the Weligama W15 hotel shooting in Matara. Additionally, Rs 2.5 million had been allocated from the President’s Fund. He said he believed the request for the latter amount had likely come from the then Minister of Public Security, Tiran Alles.
Weerasuriya clarified that the request for the Rs 2.5 million could not have been made directly by Tennakoon but noted that Tennakoon had instructed that the request be routed through Minister Alles.
He stated that the total Rs 4 million in compensation was credited to the bank account of the slain officer’s wife, but the funds had since been frozen, rendering them inaccessible.
Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris noted that as these were public funds, there must be no opportunity for misuse or misappropriation.
Acting IGP Weerasuriya also revealed that a request had been made to posthumously promote the deceased officer. However, since two investigations—one by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and another by the Special Investigations Unit—are still ongoing, the promotion had not been granted.
He further testified that the National Police Commission (NPC) had, on two occasions, asked Tennakoon—then serving as Acting IGP—to submit a report on the Weligama incident, attaching relevant newspaper clippings. However, Tennakoon responded both times with the same letter, rather than submitting a formal report.
Weerasuriya said he too was directed by the NPC to submit a report on the incident, along with the relevant press articles, and he complied within the one-month period provided.
He also highlighted that the officers from the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), who were present at the time of the shooting, had failed to identify themselves as police officers to a mobile patrol team. Had they done so, he said, the situation might not have escalated into such a tragic and dangerous incident.
He added that while Tennakoon was serving as IGP, 43 officers had been assigned to his personal security detail—28 from the Special Task Force (STF), nine from the Western Province Intelligence Unit, and six from the Special Security Division. However, after Tennakoon went into hiding without notifying the authorities, all 43 officers were recalled to their respective divisions.
On the issue of continued salary and allowance payments to Tennakoon after his suspension, Weerasuriya stated that he initially consulted the Attorney General, who advised him that the matter fell under the purview of the Auditor General. After consultation, the Auditor General confirmed that there was no issue with making the payments. As a result, salary payments continued until the Matara Magistrate’s Court issued an arrest warrant, at which point payments were suspended.
Weerasuriya further confirmed that Rs 1.5 million had been disbursed from the Police Reward Fund to the family of the late officer, Upul, who died in the Weligama incident. However, he noted that according to regulations, any disbursement exceeding Rs 300,000 requires prior approval from the IGP and must follow official procedures and circulars. In this case, he said, the request had been submitted under the justification of “emergency needs” without the necessary supporting documentation or proper quotations.
