Will Deshabandu be arrested? Court summons CID to clarify on August 5

By Bhagya Silva

Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura yesterday issued notice to the Director of Unit 3 of the CID’s Special Investigations Division, instructing him to appear in court on August 5 and clarify whether former Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon is to be arrested.  

This order was issued following the consideration of a motion filed by Tennakoon seeking anticipatory bail in connection with the investigation into the police crackdown on protesters at Galle Face Green during the 2022 protest.  

The anticipatory bail application was submitted citing the risk of arrest prior to the conclusion of a pending Fundamental Rights case before the Supreme Court. The petitioner argued that the incident in question where government supporters and protesters clashed near the Presidential Secretariat on May 9, 2022 occurred under the directives of the then-executive leadership and that any action taken by Tennakoon was in compliance with orders issued by the Inspector General of Police and the former President.  

President’s Counsel Ajith Pathirana, appearing on behalf of Tennakoon, told the court that the petitioner, who served as the Senior DIG in charge of the Western Province at the time had acted solely on those official directives and had no personal role in escalating the incident.