Suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Thennakoon appeared before a parliamentary committee yesterday (23) investigating his conduct during his tenure. This was his first appearance before the committee, and the session lasted nearly 11 hours, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the Parliament complex.
During the proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris led a series of questions focusing on Thennakoon’s whereabouts during a controversial period, and whether he had deliberately gone into hiding. Peiris asked if Thennakoon had been staying at his family home in Giriulla at the time. Thennakoon confirmed that he had, but denied any attempt to evade authorities.
“I was staying in my usual bedroom at home,” he said, adding that he had travelled to Giriulla from the Kosgama post in a three-wheeler.
Presiding Judge Prithipathman Sooriyasekara asked who else had been at the Giriulla residence. Thennakoon responded, “My elderly mother and sister were there occasionally. Most of the time, the house remains locked.”
Peiris further questioned whether anyone else was present during his stay. Thennakoon said he was alone. When asked if he had kept the lights off, he said the house was partially shuttered and he used candles.
Asked why he had left his residence in Hokandara, Thennakoon said it was based on advice from his lawyers. He also revealed that he had made several trips to Colombo during that period, and noted that CID officers had been sent to track him down. “They even visited the Basnayake Nilame’s house in Kataragama looking for me,” he said, “but I never went there.”
Referring to his earlier affidavit, Peiris asked if Thennakoon had returned to Colombo in a three-wheeler. Thennakoon confirmed this and admitted to borrowing mobile phones from the drivers to contact his legal counsel via mobile apps. When asked how he had their contact numbers, he said he had written them down on a piece of paper.
Peiris also directly questioned whether Thennakoon believed he was being politically targeted. “Yes, sir,” Thennakoon replied.
The committee concluded its session at 8 p.m. and reconvened this morning (24).
