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SDIG Deshabandu assaulted, 3 arrested

11 May 2022

  • Police fire warning shots to disperse crowd at Beira Lake
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) in charge of the Western Province (WP) Deshabandu Tennakoon was attacked by a group of protestors near the Beira Lake in Colombo yesterday (10), with three suspects subsequently arrested over the attack. Video footage of the incident, which was shared on social media platforms, particularly on Facebook, showed a group of protestors asking Tennakoon, the latter who was in plainclothes at the time, as to who had ordered the attack on the protesters on Monday (9). According to the relevant video footage, they continued to ask the SDIG questions such as “Who ordered to attack us?” and “Who ordered you to attack our freedom struggle?” Around 25 protestors had surrounded him at that time and the videos show him moving forward. When he started moving forward, someone said, “Attack him”, and one person was seen slapping Tennakoon at that point. After that, a few of the protestors were seen attacking him.  After the incident, the Police had reportedly fired several shots to disperse the crowd. Also, the Police stated that three suspects have been arrested for allegedly attacking SDIG Tennakoon last evening.  When contacted by The Morning yesterday evening, a spokesman from the office of the SDIG – Western Province confirmed that while such an attack had taken place, Tennakoon however was in good health.  Allegations have been levelled against the Police that they had not taken adequate steps to prevent the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Government supporters from attacking the “MainaGoGama” protest in front of the Temple Trees and later entering the Galle Face Green, where the SLPP supporters had attacked the “GotaGoGama” protesters.


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