Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon has been found guilty of allegations relating to a shooting incident in Weligama and abuse of power, according to the findings of a three-member Committee of Inquiry. The committee has unanimously recommended that Tennakoon be removed from his post.
Speaker of Parliament Jagath Wickremaratne announced the committee’s conclusion today, stating that the report recommends Tennakoon’s removal. The inquiry was conducted by a committee chaired by Supreme Court Judge Justice P.P. Surasena, alongside Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawala, who heads the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), and National Police Commission Chairman Lalith Ekanayake.
The Speaker is now required to include the committee’s recommendation as a resolution in Parliament’s Order Paper. Once the resolution is debated under the Standing Orders of Parliament and passed by a majority vote, the President must formally remove the IGP from office.
The process began with Parliament passing a resolution on April 8 to appoint a Committee of Inquiry under Section 5 of the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act, No. 5 of 2002. This resolution was tabled with the support of 115 National People’s Power (NPP) MPs and passed unanimously. The Speaker appointed the committee with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
IGP Tennakoon was presented with a charge sheet containing 22 charges, which he responded to before the committee on May 18. The allegations include his involvement in the shooting near the W15 Hotel in Weligama on December 31, 2023, which resulted in the death of an officer from the Colombo Crime Division, and an alleged assault on protesters at Galle Face Green on May 9, 2022. He is also accused of failing to appear in court over the Weligama incident.
The committee concluded that Tennakoon’s actions amount to misconduct and gross abuse of power, tarnishing the reputation of the office of the IGP and the Police Department, and rendering him unfit to continue in the role under Section 3(d) of the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act.
Tennakoon has denied all allegations.
This marks the first time since its enactment in 2002 that the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act has been used to recommend the dismissal of either an Inspector General of Police or an Attorney General. Grounds for removal under the Act include misconduct, corruption, abuse of power, neglect of duty, partiality, or other serious offenses such as treason or bribery.
