News
IGP on the run: Raid on Sagala’s Morawaka office draws blank
… has evaded police and combined intelligence services for two weeks
by Shamindra Ferdinando
The Court of Appeal yesterday (12) declared that its ruling in Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon’s writ petition seeking nullification of the arrest warrant issued on him by the Matara Magistrate’s Court would be delivered on Monday (17). Meanshile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) searched one-time Public Security Minister Sagala Ratnayake’s Morawaka office, looking for the IGP on the run.
Ratnayake also served as former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Chief of Staff besides being the National Security Advisor.
Plain clothesmen raided Ratnayake’s office soon after Matara Chief Magistrate Aruna Indrajith Buddhasasa on Tuesday (11) issued an open arrest warrant on IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon following representations made by the CID regarding police (Colombo Crime Division team) shooting at luxury hotel W 15, situated at Weligama, on 31 Dec., 2023.
Earlier, plain clothesmen searched the residence of Kataragama Basnayake Nilame Dishan Wickramaratne Gunasekara at Palatuwa, Matara, in search of Deshabandu Tennakoon, who had been on the run since 28 February, when the Matara Magistrate ordered police to arrest the IGP and eight other officers attached to the CCD.
Kataragama Basnayake Nilame Dishan Gunasekara, who had been asked by the CID to report to its headquarters regarding some other investigation, flayed the government and the CID outside CID. Responding to media queries, Gunasekera alleged that none of the raiding party had been in uniform and the local police not informed of the raid.
Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament that the CID followed proper procedure. Minister Wijepala emphasized when such raids were conducted local police were not alerted.
Although speculation is rife of the CID searching the Colombo residence of Tiran Alles, another former public Security Minister, Cabinet spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, however, evaded the question at the post-Cabinet media briefing early this week.
Tennakoon, in his petition, has alleged that Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Ravi Seneviratne, and former CID Director, SSP Shani Abeysekara, were pushing for his arrest.
The Election Commission of Sri Lnka [ECSL] taking another step forward in ensuring free and fair elections, launched a Mobile Application for the speedy resolution of disputes arising during elections.
The Election Disputes Resolution (EDR) App a simple and efficient way to report election issues instantly will be put to test during the forthcoming Local Authorities Election
It can be downloaded on Appstore and Google Play
Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) MURASAME arrived at the Port of Colombo on a replenishment visit this morning (22 Mar 25).
The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
JMSDF MURASAME is a 151m long Destroyer commanded by Commander HAYAKAWA Masahiro. Meanwhile, she is manned by a crew of 200.
During her stay in Colombo, crew members of the ship are expected to visit some tourist attractions in the city of Colombo and the ship is scheduled to depart the island on 25 Mar 25.
It has been reported that two persons riding a motorcycle were killed in a shooting incident that took place around 11.45pm on Friday [21] night , in front of the southern entrance of the Devundara Sri Vishnu Devalaya, on Sinhasana Road.
The unidentified gunmen, who arrived in a van, opened fire using a T-56 assault rifle and 9 mm firearms before fleeing the scene. The police have recovered 39 T-56 bullet casings, two T-56 rounds of live ammunition, a T-56 magazine, three 9 mm bullet casings, and one 9mm live ammunition.
The van suspected to have been used by the shooters was found abandoned and set on fire on a side road about 800 meters from the crime scene.
The two deceased victims have been identified as Tikira Hennedige Yomesh Nadishan and Marakkala Manage Pasidu Tharuka, both residents of Sinhasana Road, Devinuwara.
Recent history repeats for first five gold medallists at WIC Nanjing 25
ECSL launch Election Dispute Resolution (EDR) Mobile App
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