The Matara Magistrate’s Court has ordered that IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, for whom a warrant was issued concerning the shooting incident at the W15 Hotel in Weligama, Matara, in 2023, be remanded until March 20.
The Matara Magistrate’s Court also stated that the decision on the bail application made by Deshabandu Tennakoon’s lawyers will be announced tomorrow (March 20).
Tennakoon, who had been avoiding court since February 27, appeared before the Matara Magistrate’s Court through his lawyers on the morning of March 19.
‘If he is imprisoned, his safety should be ensured’
President’s Counsel Shanaka Ranasinghe, representing Deshabandu Tennakoon, stated before the court that after the arrest warrant was issued, his client filed a case before the Court of Appeal seeking relief. He surrendered to the court this morning after his petition was rejected.
“Your Honor, I request that this suspect be released on bail. If you are to deny bail, you must consider two provisions of the Bail Act: evading investigations and influencing witnesses. This suspect, as the IGP, conducted a major operation called ‘justice’. A large number of people involved in criminal activities have already been arrested and imprisoned. Therefore, if this suspect is imprisoned, his safety should be ensured.” The President’s Counsel requested that his client be released on bail under any condition.
‘He is a criminal’
Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, representing the Criminal Investigation Department conducting the investigation, strongly opposed the bail request and presented facts before the court.
“Your Honor… This morning, I received news that this suspect, for whom an open warrant has been issued, arrived in a Mercedes Benz, dressed in tie-dye, and is sitting in the Matara Courthouse. It was only after this was reported that I decided to appear in this courthouse. This suspect must have thought of coming to the courthouse like a stray cat without informing us about this motion and breaking the chains of an abandoned house and taking bail. When I came to the courthouse, this suspect was dressed in tie-dye and sitting on a bench in a row. Your Honor, I would like to ask. How is he sitting on a bench? He should be in a cage.”
“He is a criminal. A criminal should come to court crawling on the ground. He cannot come like this in a lion dance. He had been hiding from the court for about twenty days by turning off his phone and playing hidden games. He is a person second to criminals like Makandure Madush and Harak Kata, who are considered organized criminals. He is also a good actor. He came to court with water flowing up to his nose. You were named as the first respondent in the petition filed by this suspect in the Court of Appeal. The petition also alleged that you were conspiring by locking the door of the courtroom.”
The Additional Solicitor General continued, “When this suspect was serving as the IGP, he said that lawyers protect criminals. Having said that, he has come to court today surrounded by lawyers. Sir… This is not the punishment for the shooting at the W15 Hotel. This is a reward for karma. He does not need to be told what is meant by visible, painful karma. Because it is now being displayed before his eyes. Karma is what has been revealed to him in this very life.”
He further stated, “Your Honor… After you issued an order to arrest this suspect, a large police team started operations to find him as if they were searching for Prabhakaran. He was hiding until yesterday using his social and religious power. The address given as the place where this suspect resides is that of a monk. In the past few days, the police have questioned various people, including Nilames and politicians, about him. He has made deals with such people.
“When this suspect’s house was searched, 795 bottles of liquor were found there. Liquor bottles worth more than one crore were found. There were about a hundred hampers alone. Government employees cannot receive gifts. So how did he get them? His house is not a house, it is a distillery. No property is registered in his name. However, we have found that he owns about eight houses. That is why I said this person is more dangerous than organized criminals,” the Additional Solicitor General said, adding that the suspect had been evading the courts and requested a verdict that would send a message to society.
The Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, who further explained the matter, stated that the bail application should be rejected and the suspect should be remanded in custody.
Court Decision Pending
Considering the facts presented, the Magistrate stated that the order on his bail application would be announced tomorrow.
Minister of Public Security Informs Parliament About Deshabandu’s Surrender
Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala informed Parliament on the morning of March 19 that Deshabandu Tennakoon had surrendered before the Matara Magistrate’s Court.
The Minister stated that a team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had gone to the Matara Magistrate’s Court to present evidence related to the confiscation of Deshabandu Tennakoon’s property.
The Court of Appeal (March 17) dismissed a writ petition filed by IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon seeking an interim injunction to prevent the execution of the arrest order issued by the Matara Magistrate’s Court concerning the W15 Hotel shooting incident in Weligama, Matara, in 2023.
The bench ordered the IGP and CID officers to immediately arrest Deshabandu Tennakoon and produce him in court. Additionally, the Matara Magistrate was instructed to investigate and take legal action against those who aided him in evading court.
Extensive Search Operations
The Matara Magistrate’s Court had initially issued an arrest warrant for Deshabandu Tennakoon on February 27. On March 11, an open warrant was issued after the CID reported that their efforts to locate Tennakoon across 10 suspected hiding places had failed.
The CID’s search operation involved six specialized teams conducting extensive investigations across various locations. A raid on Tennakoon’s house in Hokandara on March 18 revealed over 1,000 bottles of liquor and wine, a pistol, and two Apple mobile phones believed to belong to Tennakoon.
The Minister of Public Security told Parliament that the CID is preparing to present evidence to confiscate Tennakoon’s assets. The court’s decision on the bail application will be announced tomorrow.
