Deshabandu and two other police officers face guillotine?

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

The committee which probed allegations made against IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon has found him guilty while it has found the conduct of two other police officers questionable.   

The committee report which was presented to Parliament yesterday said DIG Jagath Kumara and Ex Director Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) ASP Neville De Silva had given false evidence during the inquiry. Therefore, the committee said their conduct is questionable. “It is the view of the committee that this is a fit matter which the National Police Commission should consider when taking action against these officers.   

The committee report said IGP Tennakoon by committing one or more acts of misconduct and acts of gross abuse of power has brought Sri Lankan Police towards disrepute and has thereby committed an act unbecoming of an IGP of a country.   

It has found Tennakoon guilty of facilitating a shooting at W 15 Hotel in Weligama. “Nobody could ever dream that the IGP of the country would facilitate dangerous illegal acts,” the committee report said.   

The committee of inquiry has faulted Tennakoon for evading arrest. “The CID is under the guidance and direct supervision of the IGP. Moreover, Sri Lankan Police is under him. Thus, evading arrest and going into hiding to prevent the CID from detecting him is definitely not an action which anybody would expect the holder of the office of IGP to engage in,” the report said in this regard.    The committee said Tennakoon by going into hiding has undermined the due process of law in the case. The committee had come to this conclusion based on the premise that an order has been issued by the Matara Magistrate for his arrest. The committee has rejected the excuse given by Tennakoon that he is entitled to evade arrest as he has filed a writ application in the Court of Appeal.   

However, the committee refrained from coming into conclusions on charges 20 and 21 as there was a court case pending on these charges with the Supreme Court.   

Meanwhile, Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne assured that the date on which Parliament would take up the resolution to remove Tennakoon from office will be announced during the coming days.