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Fort Chief Magistrate summons IGP over Deshabandu non-transfer 

26 May 2022

  • Cites disregard of AG's directions, warns he will issue order if not followed 
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Colombo Fort Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage yesterday (25) ordered Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne to explain to the court as to why Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) in charge of the Western Province (WP) Deshabandu Tennakoon has not yet been transferred, despite being directed by Attorney General (AG) Sanjay Rajaratnam PC to do so. The Chief Magistrate further stated that if the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) does not take action against Tennakoon with regard to the incidents of peaceful protestors at “MynaGoGama” in front of Temple Trees and at “GotaGoGama” at Galle Face being attacked by a group of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) supporters, he would issue a court order regarding the matter in the coming days.  Referring to a photograph showing Tennakoon and SLPP MP Sanath Nishantha, the latter who is currently in remand custody over the same incident, walking towards the “GotaGoGama” protest site at the Galle Face Green, which has been submitted to the court, the Chief Magistrate said that it is observed that Tennakoon and Perera are seen walking forward while having a cordial conversation. Noting that Tennakoon is still functioning as SDIG in charge of the WP despite the AG's directions to transfer him to prevent any possible undue interventions into the investigations concerning the incidents of 9 May, the Chief Magistrate stated that the court was surprised that the CID was acting in such a manner as to undermine public confidence. Therefore, he ordered the IGP to appear before the court and provide an explanation as to why the AG's direction has not been implemented.  The AG had instructed IGP Wickramaratne to transfer Tennakoon to prevent any possible undue interventions in the investigations into the incidents of 9 May. When contacted by The Morning, Police Media Spokesman, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and Attorney-at-Law Nihal Thalduwa confirmed that the IGP's office had received the AG's direction last week.  Several parties have alleged that Tennakoon, as SDIG in charge of the WP,  had not taken adequate steps to prevent the group of SLPP supporters who had attacked the peaceful protestors at the “MynaGoGama” and “GotaGoGama” protest sites on 9 May from entering Galle Face. Tennakoon had also given statements to the CID and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka with regard to the incidents on 9 May. It has also come to light that it was IGP Wickramaratne, acting on instructions from Public Security Ministry Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Jagath Alwis, who had instructed senior police officials, including Tennakoon, not to use water cannons and tear gas to disperse supporters of the SLPP who carried out the attack on the said protest sites.


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