A parliamentary committee investigating the conduct of suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon convened on the 11th at the Parliament complex yesterday (24), where tense and dramatic exchanges unfolded during the testimony of Colombo Range Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) Jagath Chandra Kumara.

The session focused on the controversial police shooting that occurred near the W15 Hotel in Weligama, in which one officer was killed and others injured.

Appearing before the committee for the first time, SDIG Chandra Kumara was questioned by Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Pieris, who noted the officer appeared visibly nervous. “Your legs are trembling. Are you unwell?” Pieris asked. “No sir, it’s just my first time testifying before a committee like this,” Chandra Kumara responded.

Pieris then asked whether the witness still believed the shooting was carried out by unidentified assailants. “Yes, that’s still my position,” Chandra Kumara said.

The committee pressed further on when he first learned of the incident. Chandra Kumara replied he was informed between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m. on 31 May 2023. He said the information came via a phone call from Neville Silva, the acting Director of the CID, while he was at his office.

When asked whether he relayed the information to the then-acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, Chandra Kumara said he had indeed informed him. However, during the lengthy testimony, the SDIG repeatedly gave inconsistent answers, prompting Committee Chairperson Justice (name not mentioned) to sternly warn him:
“You are giving contradictory answers. Officers like you are the reason the police department is in disrepute. You should be ashamed of your responses.”

At one point, Chandra Kumara was read a portion of the police investigative report compiled by the Weligama Senior Police Superintendent, which directly named the shooter in the W15 incident. However, when asked whether he knew the officer named Upul had died from the shooting, Chandra Kumara stated, “I only learned that just now, sir.”

Chairperson Justice sharply questioned how it was possible for Chandra Kumara to have recommended compensation of hundreds of thousands of rupees and a promotion for the deceased officer without knowing the cause of death. The SDIG replied that it was done swiftly due to the officer’s death.

The committee also questioned Chandra Kumara about whether he received any phone calls from IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon regarding the incident. He responded, “I don’t remember.” When asked whether Tennakoon mentioned the shooting during a 6:00 a.m. call on the day of the incident, Chandra Kumara again said no such details were conveyed.

Dilip Pieris then questioned whether he had received a follow-up call from Neville Silva around 4:00 a.m., as indicated in call logs. Chandra Kumara again replied, “I don’t recall, sir.”

At this point, Pieris presented the phone records, confirming a 4:00 a.m. call from Silva on 31 May. Even so, Chandra Kumara maintained he did not remember.

Chairperson Justice remarked, “You’re fortunate to be testifying here today. Otherwise, even tomorrow, you’d still be unaware of this incident.”

The session concluded shortly after this final exchange, with the committee ending the witness testimony of SDIG Jagath Chandra Kumara.