Suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon told a parliamentary inquiry that police failed to locate him during a high-profile manhunt because they were searching in the wrong places. He claimed he was at his powerless Giriulla home while authorities looked elsewhere.
Suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon has claimed that Sri Lankan police were searching the wrong locations during the manhunt for him in connection with the W15 Hotel shooting in Weligama. Testifying before the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee on Monday, Tennakoon said he was at his residence in Giriulla, living without electricity and relying on candles, while police were looking elsewhere.
Tennakoon is one of nine individuals the Matara Magistrate ordered arrested on February 28 over the December 31 shooting near the popular W15 Hotel, following an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
This marked Tennakoon’s first appearance before the committee, where he maintained he was not evading arrest but simply staying at his private residence.
The inquiry will continue through Wednesday, June 25, with 15 witnesses scheduled to testify on Tennakoon’s behalf. Proceedings will resume again on Thursday, June 26, at 2:00 p.m.
