Former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon indicted in Weligama shooting case

Former Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon and eight other officers have been formally indicted before the Matara High Court in connection with a December 2023 shooting incident. The case stems from an operation outside the W15 Hotel in Weligama, which resulted in the death of a police sergeant after one group of officers opened fire on another.

The indictment marks a significant judicial development in Sri Lanka, as it involves one of the country’s most senior former law enforcement officials facing criminal proceedings. The court will now determine the individual criminal responsibility of the nine accused. The case has raised broader institutional questions regarding the authorization of special operations, command communication, and the accountability of high-ranking police officials within the Sri Lanka Police.