Tennakoon Mudiyanselage Wanshalankara Deshabandu Tennakoon (born 7 March 1971), known as Deshabandu Tennakoon (Sinhala: දේශබන්දු තෙන්නකෝන්), is a controversial Sri Lankan police officer. He was the first de facto Inspector General of the Sri Lankan Police. The Supreme Court suspended him on 24 July 2024.^[2][3] In March 2025 Tennakoon was reported to have gone missing after the magistrate's court ordered him to be arrested.^[4]

Deshabandu Tennakoon was born in 1971 and received his school education at Nalanda College, Colombo. Later, after graduating from University of Colombo with a bachelor’s degree he joined the Sri Lanka Police service in 1998, beginning his career as an apprentice Assistant Superintendent of Police. He is also a holder of a masters degree from University of Kelaniya.^[5] Prior to his current appointment, Deshabandu served as the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) in charge of the Western Province.^[6]

It had been reported in the Sri Lankan media that Tennakoon had allegedly been present at the two protest sites that came under attack on Black Monday.^[7]

Tennakoon while serving as the SDIG in charge of Western Province, was physically assaulted on the street at Perahera Mawatha, while attempting to leave Temple Trees in civil clothing on 10 May 2022, the day after Temple Trees was attacked by protesters on Black Monday, before he was rescued by policemen and admitted to hospital.^[7][8]

On 14 December 2023, a three judge bench of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka ruled that Tennakoon and two of his subordinates were guilty of torturing Weheragedara Ranjith Sumangala of Kindelpitiya for an alleged theft and thereby violating his fundamental rights when the men were in uniform attached to the Nugegoda Police Division in 2010. The Fundamental Rights Application (SC/FR 107/2011) was filled by Sumangala in the Supreme Court in March 2011, against the then Superintendent of Police, M.W.D. Tennakoone, Inspector of Police Bhathiya Jayasinghe, then OIC (Emergency Unit) Mirihana, Police Officer Bandara, former Sergeant Major of the Army Ajith Wanasundera of Padukka and several others in the police department. The three bench panel that consisted of Justices S. Thurairaja, Kumudini Wickremasinghe and Priyantha Fernando, directed the National Police Commission and other relevant authorities to take disciplinary action against Tennakoon and two of his subordinates.^[9][10]

On 29 November 2023 President Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed Tennakoon as acting Inspector General of Police.^[11] He was appointed as the permanent Inspector General of Police on 26 February 2024 but was suspended on 24 July 2024.^[1]

The same day that he was appointed to the post of Inspector General of Police, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa claimed that in the Constitutional Council, which oversees high-level appointments, saw only 4 votes cast in favour of Tennakoon, while 2 votes were cast against and 2 votes were cast as absentees. Among the votes in favour was the Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena who does not have a right to vote when it’s not a tie. Premadasa pointed out that this would make the appointment illegal.^[12]

An operation led by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) in Weligama resulted in a shooting near the W15 Hotel, during which a police officer was killed. The Matara Magistrate's Court later deemed this operation unauthorized and ordered the arrest of Tennakoon and eight other police officers on charges of conspiracy to commit murder.^[13] As of early March 2025, Tennakoon remains at large, evading arrest despite ongoing efforts by law enforcement.^[14] Authorities have warned that legal action will be taken against anyone assisting him in evading capture. These incidents have significantly impacted public trust in Sri Lanka's law enforcement, highlighting concerns about accountability and the use of violence by police officials.^[15]

On February 28, 2025, the Matara Magistrate's Court issued an open warrant for Tennakoon's arrest in connection with a shooting incident near the W15 Hotel in Pelena, Weligama, on December 31, 2023. The court also imposed a travel ban, preventing him from leaving the country during the investigation. Despite extensive efforts by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), including raids at multiple locations, Tennakoon remains at large. As of March 6, 2025, police announced that he is evading arrest.^[16]

In response to the arrest warrant, Tennakoon filed a writ petition with the Court of Appeal on March 10, seeking to prevent his arrest. His legal team requested an interim injunction to stay the arrest warrant issued by the Matara Magistrate's Court. The petition was scheduled for further consideration on March 12, 2025.^[17]

• Deshabandu Tennakoon appointed as acting IGP
• NEWSDeshabandu appointed Acting IGP
• Constitutional Council clears Deshabandu Tennakoon’s appointment as Acting IGP