Sri Lanka's Suspended Police Chief Appeals Arrest

Deshabandu Tennakoon, Sri Lanka's suspended police chief, seeks a court order to prevent his arrest linked to a shooting. The Court of Appeal will hear the case on March 12. Tennakoon remains on the run after an officer was killed during a raid he initiated in December 2023.

Deshabandu Tennakoon, the suspended police chief of Sri Lanka, has approached the Court of Appeal in an attempt to prevent his arrest over a fatal shooting incident.

The Court of Appeal, composed of two judges, has agreed to consider Tennakoon’s plea on March 12. The former police leader has been evading arrest following a December 2023 confrontation that resulted in the death of a police officer during a raid in Weligama.

Authorities have struggled to apprehend him despite deploying multiple teams and imposing a travel ban. His suspension, ordered by the Supreme Court—where he faces separate allegations—raises concerns about his appointment and subsequent actions.