The Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court that indictments are expected to be filed before the High Court within one month against former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon in connection with investigations into the 2022 attack on the “Gota Go Gama” protest site at Galle Face.
The disclosure was made when the Supreme Court took up an appeal filed by the Attorney General challenging an earlier ruling by the Court of Appeal, which nullified the AG’s directive to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to name Tennakoon as a suspect in relation to the attack.
The matter was taken up before a three-judge Supreme Court bench comprising Justices A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Achala Wengappuli, and Sampath Wijeratne.
Appearing for the Attorney General, Deputy Solicitor General Suharshi Herath informed court that steps were being taken to file indictments against the respondent, former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon.
At that point, presiding judge Justice Nawaz questioned the AG’s side on how long it would take to file the relevant indictments.
Responding directly, the Deputy Solicitor General stated that preparations were underway to file indictments against Tennakoon within a period of one month.
Following the Attorney General’s statement, President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, appearing for Tennakoon, argued that if the Attorney General intended to directly file indictments against his client, continuing with the present appeal proceedings would be futile.
However, after considering the submissions and legal positions presented by both sides, the three-judge bench ordered that the petition be recalled for further consideration on 2 September.
