• Athurugiriya cops inform Deshabandu at his residence of being in crosshairs of Kanjipani Imran 
• Public Security Min. tells Deshabandu to officially inform the Police for Act. IGP to probe and provide security 

Following reports that Police officers had visited suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon’s residence and informed him of an alleged assassination plot, the Ministry of Public Security stated that the Police would take necessary steps if there is a credible threat.

It was reported on Wednesday (30 April) that Police officers including the Officer-in-Charge of the Athurugiriya Police Station had visited Tennakoon's residence, and informed the latter that organised crime figure Mohommad Najim Mohommad Imran alias Kanjipani Imran was planning to assassinate him. This – both the visit and the substance of the visit – was confirmed to The Daily Morning by sources close to Tennakoon.

When contacted by The Daily Morning, the Minister of Public Security, Ananda Wijepala said that if Tennakoon officially informs the relevant authorities of a threat, the necessary action would be taken to provide him with security. "His security was withdrawn when he went into hiding. There's no way to provide protection to someone who isn’t reachable. Everyone knows that. Right now, we don’t know if there is a threat to him. The Acting IGP (Priyantha Weerasooriya) will look into it. If someone officially informs us of a credible threat, then the Police will take appropriate action and provide security."

The Matara Magistrate’s Court recently issued an arrest warrant for Tennakoon and seven other officers of the Colombo Crimes Division, charging them with conspiracy to commit murder in connection with a 2023 shooting near the W15 Hotel in Weligama. Tennakoon, who evaded arrest for nearly 20 days, later surrendered to Court, was remanded, and subsequently released on bail.