“Van with 7 Men, Broken Glass, and a Dying Officer”

COLOMBO (News 1st); A high-level three-member committee continues its investigation into serious allegations against suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, following a parliamentary resolution calling for his removal under the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act No. 5 of 2002.

The committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice P.P. Surasena, includes retired Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawela and National Police Commission Chairman E.W.M. Lalith Ekanayake.

It convened again on Wednesday (18) to examine evidence and hear testimonies related to Tennakoon’s alleged misconduct during his tenure.

One of the central accusations involves a shooting incident at the W15 Hotel in Weligama in 2023. Tennakoon is accused of misusing his authority by allegedly deploying officers from the Colombo Crimes Division for a personal matter, resulting in a fatal shooting. A police officer lost his life during the incident, and the vehicle used in the operation was later intercepted on the Southern Expressway.

Testimony from Police Sergeant Upul Wasantha Alwis Wijewikrama of the Expressway Traffic Division revealed that the van involved in the shooting was flagged at the Imaduwa entrance around 3:10 a.m. on the day of the incident. 

The van, bearing registration CK 7225, had a shattered rear window and carried seven individuals, some of whom identified themselves as police officers.

One of the passengers, wearing a green T-shirt, presented an ID and identified himself as “Silva.” Another individual, later identified as IP Nishantha, was seen making phone calls and requesting permission to proceed to Colombo. However, the officers on duty denied the request due to the presence of an injured person in the van.

The injured officer, wearing a bike jacket, was found to be in critical condition with a heart rate of 52 bpm. He was rushed to Karapitiya Hospital via ambulance at approximately 3:45 a.m. Another passenger, who appeared to suffer a limp, also boarded the ambulance after surrendering his weapon.

Despite the urgency, witnesses stated that the group did not initially disclose the nature of the injuries or the shooting incident, raising further concerns about the operation’s legitimacy and transparency.

The committee has been holding daily hearings since June 16, 2025, and has already received affidavits and evidence from the Attorney General’s Department. 

Tennakoon’s legal team has also made submissions, while the Acting IGP has appointed a special team to assist with the inquiry.