- Note that the arresting officer in the image is not the officer mentioned in the article, but an AI creation.
A powerful former police chief now faces legal heat after an explosive arrest linked to a controversial travel ban imposed on hundreds of CID officers without court approval.
Former Director of the Criminal Investigation Department and Deputy Inspector General of Police W. Tillakaratne was arrested yesterday morning by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau in connection with a major abuse of authority case dating back to 2019.
The arrest relates to a decision taken by Tillakaratne to impose a foreign travel ban on 704 CID officers without obtaining a court order. Investigators say the move was carried out purely at his own discretion, raising serious concerns about misuse of power within the police hierarchy.
W. Tillakaratne was appointed as Director of the CID shortly after Gotabaya Rajapaksa assumed office as President. On November 25, 2019, he issued instructions that effectively barred hundreds of CID officers from leaving the country, a move that later sparked internal outrage and legal scrutiny.
Following his arrest, the former DIG was produced before court and released on personal bail of Rs. 1 million. The court has also imposed a foreign travel ban on him as investigations continue into the CID travel ban controversy.
Authorities say the case highlights growing accountability within Sri Lanka’s law enforcement system.
