Wed Mar 19 10:37:59 UTC 2025: ## Suspended Sri Lankan Police Chief Surrenders After Two-Week Manhunt

**Colombo, Sri Lanka –** Deshabandu Tennakoon, the suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Sri Lanka, surrendered to the Matara Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, ending a two-week manhunt. Tennakoon had been evading arrest since February 28th following a court order related to a 2023 shooting incident.

The incident involved a raid on a Weligama resort hotel by officers from the Colombo Crime Division (CCD), led by Tennakoon, investigating illegal drug activity. Unaware of the operation, Weligama police opened fire on the CCD vehicle, resulting in the death of an officer. The subsequent investigation led to the arrest warrant for Tennakoon.

His appeal against the arrest was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on Tuesday. Following his surrender, Tennakoon was remanded to prison.

Tennakoon’s suspension dates back to July 2024, following a Supreme Court order questioning the legality of his appointment. The court had previously found him guilty of torturing a person in custody. Despite this, he was appointed IGP in November 2023. An acting police chief has been in place since then.

A police raid on Tennakoon’s home in Hokandara on Tuesday night yielded a significant amount of foreign liquor and personal weapons, including iPhones, according to Police Minister Ananda Wijepala. Tennakoon’s wife has filed a complaint alleging the raid was conducted without a warrant. The investigation into the 2023 shooting incident and Tennakoon’s actions continues.

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