Suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon has appeared before the three-member committee of inquiry, appointed to investigate and report on allegations of misconduct and serious abuse of office against him.
The committee convened under the chairmanship of Supreme Court Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and with the participation of Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawela and Chairman of the National Police Commission E.D.M. Lalith Ekanayake at the Parliamentary complex.
The Department of Communications of Parliament stated during the meeting it was noted that affidavits from witnesses have been handed over to the legal team of IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon by representatives from the Attorney General’s Department.
During the session, Additional Solicitor General President’s Counsel Dileepa Peiris and Deputy Solicitor General Rajitha Perera, representing the Attorney General’s Department, informed the committee that they had visited the residence of Attorney-at-Law R.S. Weerawickrama, who represents Deshabandu Tennakoon, to hand over 12 affidavits from witnesses.
Additionally, affidavits from 10 witnesses were handed over to Deshabandu Tennakoon’s legal team when the committee convened. Representatives of the Department also stated that the remaining affidavits are expected to be presented during the next committee session.
Accordingly, the legal team representing the IGP requested that, as previously agreed, all affidavits of the witnesses be handed over to them.
Following clarifications from both sides, the committee stated that providing copies of six more affidavits to Tennakoon’s legal team was appropriate.
After both parties expressed agreement, the committee also granted permission for two additional affidavits to be read in private within the Parliament premises on a mutually convenient date and time.
The committee also decided to hand over a compact disc (CD) containing a media interview, submitted as another piece of evidence, to Tennakoon’s legal team. Representatives of the Attorney General’s Department have facilitated this handover, the statement from the Department of Communications of Parliament said.
The legal team representing Deshabandu Tennakoon is scheduled to present its position regarding these affidavits at the next committee session to be held on June 9.
