Matara Magistrate’s Court today (11) issued an open warrant for the arrest of suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon at the request of the CID. Tennakoon has evaded arrest for nearly two weeks.

In response, Tennakoon has filed a writ petition with the Court of Appeal, seeking to prevent his arrest. The petition requests an interim injunction to stay the arrest warrant issued against him in connection with a shooting incident near the W15 Hotel in Weligama on 31 December 2023.

The petition was taken up today (10) before a two-member Appeals Court bench, comprising Acting President of the Court of Appeal Mohamed Lafar Tahir and Justice Sarath Dissanayake. The court has scheduled further consideration of the case for 12 March, after notices are served to the respondents.