In July 2024 a number of citizens of this country went to court to argue that the appointment of Deshabandu Thennakoon as the IGP was unconstitutional despite a division in the Constitutional Council, the Attorney General’s Department, argued that he should be made the IGP.
In less than a year on 19th March 2025, the same AG department described Deshabandu as a ghost and someone more dangerous than the most notorious criminals.
Eight petitions filed challenging the appointment of Deshabandu Thennakoon as the IGP were taken up before Supreme Court Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Achala Wengappuli and Mahinda Samayawardena in July 2024.
At that time, the Attorney General favoured making Deshabandu the IGP.
In a karmic justice, the phrase used by the AG department to describe interdict IGP Deshbanu’s situation today, on the 17th March 2025, the Attorney General’s Department had to state in the Court of Appeal that Deshabandu was not even qualified to be a police constable.
It was the same Attorney General’s Department that defended Ranil Rajapaksa’s decision to promote Deshabandu as IGP, who had already been punished by the Supreme Court as a torturer.
What an irony!
We have seen many times how the Attorney General’s Department as an institution dances according to the country’s ruling politics.
Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, who slapped the acting IGP on the face at the Matara Magistrate’s Court on the 19th, played a different role during the Ranil Rajapaksa era.
For instance, he was initially, committed to the Prageeth Ekneligoda case, but he did not show that much interest during the Gotabaya era.
His statement at the magistrate court is more like a rhetorical political speech than a legal submission. However, his statement in court regarding Deshabandu yesterday could be appreciated on one count. It undressed that country’s police chief in front of the whole country.
Opposing granting bail to suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, representing the AG’s Department, argued that he evaded law enforcement despite an open warrant for his arrest.
Tennakoon, wanted in connection with the 2023 W15 Hotel shooting in Weligama, surrendered to the Matara Magistrate’s Court on March 19.
Here are some sections of Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris’s submission to the court as published by media.
“Your Honour, 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. It was after receiving this information that I decided to appear before this 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. Even when I arrived at court, he was seated on a bench, dressed formally. Your Honour, I would like to ask—how is he sitting on a bench? He should be inside a cell.”
“He is a criminal. A criminal should not walk into court with an air of arrogance. He should be crawling on the ground. He switched off his phone and evaded court for about 20 days. He is no different from organized criminals like Makandure Madush and Harak Kata. Moreover, he is a skilled actor—he only appeared before court when he had no other option left. This suspect even named Your Honour as the first respondent in the petition he filed before the Court of Appeal, accusing the court of conspiracy.”
“This suspect, during his tenure as IGP, once claimed that lawyers protect criminals. Yet today, he himself has surrounded himself with lawyers to appear before court. Your Honour, this is not just the case regarding the W15 hotel shooting. This is an instance of karmic justice in action. He does not need an explanation about the law of karma—he is experiencing it firsthand.”
“Your Honour, after the arrest warrant was issued, a massive police operation was launched to find him—just as if we were searching for Prabhakaran. He has used his social and religious influence to evade arrest until yesterday. The address listed as his residence is actually occupied by a Buddhist monk. Over the past few days, police have questioned officials, politicians, and others regarding his whereabouts. He has made deals with influential people. When police searched his house, they found 795 bottles of liquor worth over a hundred million rupees. There were also over 100 hampers. Government employees cannot even get simple gift packs, so how did he obtain these? His house is not just a home—it is distillery. No property is registered in his name, yet he owns around eight houses. That is why I say he is even more dangerous than organized criminals. He is a ghost”
“Given his position and the nature of the charges, there is a risk that the suspect could obstruct the investigation if released,” stated ASG Dileepa Peiris.
The bail application will be taken up today.
(SD)