Sri Lanka’s Attorney General compares fugitive IGP to Prabhakaran after he finally surrenders
The Attorney General’s Department drew parallels between the hunt for suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon and a military search for LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, as the former police chief was finally remanded until 20 March following weeks of evasion.
A fugitive in a ‘luxury Benz’
At the Matara Magistrate’s Court on 19 March, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris slammed Tennakoon’s conduct, criticising his luxurious surrender.
“This morning, I received information that the suspect, against whom an open warrant has been issued for his arrest, arrived at the Matara court in a luxury Benz car, dressed in a suit, and was seated inside the court premises,” Peiris told the court.
“This suspect seems to believe he can enter court like a sneaky cat, break through empty cell blocks, and secure bail without notifying us… How is he sitting on a bench? He should be inside a cell.”
Peiris called Tennakoon “a criminal” who “should be crawling on the ground”.
“A massive police operation was launched to find him—just as if we were searching for Prabhakaran,” he said, comparing Tennakoon the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
“He is even more dangerous than organised criminals.”
Peiris accused the former IGP of hiding behind political and religious networks, alleging that police officers had searched a Buddhist monk’s residence under the belief that Tennakoon was staying there.
Liquor, cash, and secret properties
The scandal surrounding Sri Lanka’s top police officer deepened after investigators uncovered an illicit stockpile of foreign liquor, cash, and hidden assets linked to Tennakoon.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala, addressing Parliament, detailed the startling discoveries at the former IGP’s residence in Hokandara:
• 795 bottles of foreign liquor
• 214 bottles of wine
• A pistol, suspected to belong to Tennakoon
• Two brand-new iPhones
Peiris further alleged that when police searched Tennakoon’s house, they discovered over 100 luxury hampers and eight houses owned through proxies, despite no properties being officially registered in his name.
“His house is not just a home—it is a distillery,” Peiris said. “Government employees cannot even get simple gift packs, so how did he obtain these?”
A tainted career at the top
Tennakoon’s tenure as Sri Lanka’s police chief has been riddled with controversy. Appointed as IGP in November 2023, his history of abuse and misconduct made his appointment widely condemned.
In a 2023 ruling, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka found him guilty of torturing a suspect, ordering him to pay LKR 500,000 ($1,600) in compensation. The victim was subjected to menthol balm being rubbed on his genitals as a form of police brutality. Despite the ruling, no disciplinary action was taken against him.
Tennakoon’s downfall comes after the 31 December 2023 Weligama shooting, in which Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) officers, allegedly deployed under his orders, opened fire outside the W15 Hotel. The shootout resulted in the death of a police officer and another severely injured, sparking an investigation into Tennakoon’s role in illegal police operations.
He was accused of operating an unofficial armed squad, bypassing official police procedures, and deploying officers for personal reasons.
Despite his dramatic surrender, Tennakoon’s legal team is pushing for bail. President’s Counsel Shanaka Ranasinghe defended his client, claiming he voluntarily appeared before court after his petition for relief was rejected. Ranasinghe also cited concerns over his safety, given that he led Operation Yukthiya, a high-profile crime crackdown that resulted in thousands of arrests.
The Matara Magistrate’s Court is set to deliver its decision on bail tomorrow.
