May 26, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court that legal action against former Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon is expected to move forward within the coming month in connection with the violent crackdown on the 2022 ‘Aragalaya’ protest movement at Galle Face Green.
The update was presented during Supreme Court proceedings relating to an appeal filed by the Attorney General challenging an earlier Court of Appeal decision. That ruling had overturned instructions directing the Criminal Investigation Department to identify Tennakoon as a suspect in the ongoing investigation.
The matter was heard before a three-member Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz, alongside Justices Achala Wengappuli and Sampath Wijeratne. Representing the Attorney General’s Department, Deputy Solicitor General Suharshi Herath told the court that preparations were underway to formally file indictments against the former police chief.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice sought clarification on the expected timeline for the legal action, to which state counsel responded that charges would likely be filed within four weeks.
Counsel appearing on behalf of Tennakoon argued that any future indictment could undermine the validity of the present appeal proceedings, maintaining that the legal context of the case would significantly change once formal charges are instituted.
Following submissions from both sides, the Supreme Court fixed the matter for further hearing on 2 September 2026. The case continues to attract public attention due to its links to the mass anti-government demonstrations that reshaped Sri Lanka’s political landscape in 2022.
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