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PersonOn bail

Deshabandu Tennakoon

Listed from published reports. Appearing here is not a finding of wrongdoing. The custody or bail mark follows the dated status line below and may be out of date.

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Details

Role

Former Inspector General of Police, removed by a vote of Parliament in August 2025

Status

Arrested August 2025; indicted over the Weligama shooting and bailed, 7 October 2026; no verdict reported

Appears on

Politicians and investigators

Last checked

12 Oct 2026 (what this means)

Connections (5)

• Criminal Investigation Department / Arrested, August 2025 / Deshabandu TennakoonAllegation
  • Arrested at his home after a magistrate rejected his application for anticipatory bail.20 Aug 2025 · Ada Derana · Former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon arrested
• Deshabandu Tennakoon / Arrested over / Attack on protesters at Galle Face, 9 May 2022Allegation
  • The arrest was reported as connected to investigations into the attack on the “Aragalaya” protest at Galle Face Green on 9 May 2022.20 Aug 2025 · Ada Derana · Former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon arrested
• Deshabandu Tennakoon / Appointed Inspector General of Police by / Ranil Wickremesinghe
  • He was made acting IGP in November 2023 and confirmed in February 2024, appointed by then-President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Many objected to the appointment, calling it unconstitutional.5 Aug 2025 · Newswire · Deshabandu Tennakoon removed from post of IGP in Parliament vote
• Deshabandu Tennakoon / Removed as Inspector General of Police by a vote of, August 2025 / Parliament of Sri Lanka
  • On 5 August 2025 Parliament passed the resolution to remove him with 177 votes in favour, none against and one abstention. A committee had concluded he was unfit to hold any post in the police. He was the first sitting police chief removed by a parliamentary vote.5 Aug 2025 · Newswire · Deshabandu Tennakoon removed from post of IGP in Parliament vote
• Deshabandu Tennakoon / Indicted over / Weligama hotel shooting, December 2023Allegation
  • The Attorney General’s indictments were served on him and eight other police officers in the Matara High Court on 7 October 2026, and all nine were released on bail. A police sergeant from a Colombo Crime Division team was shot dead by Weligama police officers during an operation in late December 2023. The case is due again on 27 November.7 Oct 2026 · Newswire · Weligama shooting: Indictments served on Deshabandu Tennakoon and 8 others