Court of Appeal reserves order on Deshabandu’s writ petition for 17 March

Thursday, 13 March 2025 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Former IGP Deshabandu Thennakoon

The Court of Appeal yesterday reserved its order on the writ petition filed by suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Thennakoon till 17 March.

The two-Judge bench of the Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Mohamed Laffar and Sarath Dissanayake, heard the case and made this order.

In his writ petition, Thennakoon sought an order to stay the arrest warrant issued by the Matara Magistrate.

The Matara Magistrate had previously ordered Thennakoon’s arrest in connection with the Weligama shooting incident.

Romesh de Silva, PC, appearing for Thennakoon, argued that the Magistrate’s arrest order was issued contrary to legal provisions and without recording a statement from his client.

However, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Pieris, PC, appearing for the Attorney General, informed Court that Thennakoon was the mastermind behind the Weligama hotel operation, which led to a shooting targeting the hotel owner.

He further urged the Court to dismiss the petition in limine, citing Thennakoon’s suppression of material facts related to the Matara Magistrate’s Court proceedings.