Deshabandu Tennakoon may face charges within a month over the 2022 Aragalaya attack, the Attorney General told the Supreme Court.
Deshabandu Tennakoon is expected to face charges within a month over investigations linked to the attack on the “Gota Go Gama” protest at Galle Face in 2022.
The Attorney General informed the Supreme Court that charges are expected to be filed against the former Inspector General of Police within that period.
The notification was made yesterday (25) when an appeal filed by the Attorney General was taken up before court.
The appeal challenges a Court of Appeal decision that nullified a letter sent by the Attorney General to the Criminal Investigation Department naming Mr. Deshabandu Tennakoon as a suspect in the incident.
The matter was heard before a three-judge Supreme Court bench comprising Justices A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Achala Wengappuli, and Sampath Wijeratne.
When the petition was called yesterday, Deputy Solicitor General Suharshi Herath, appearing for the Attorney General, informed court that steps would be taken to file charges against Mr. Deshabandu Tennakoon.
Justice Nawaz, who headed the three-judge bench, then questioned how long it would take to file the charges.
In response, the Deputy Solicitor General stated that action would be taken to file charges against Mr. Deshabandu Tennakoon within one month.
At that point, President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, appearing for Mr. Deshabandu Tennakoon, submitted that if charges were to be filed against his client, continuing these legal proceedings would be futile.
After considering the submissions, the three-judge bench ordered that the petition be called again on September 2.
