News
Weligama shooting case; Arrests of 6 suspects deferred
The Attorney General (AG) has reached an agreement with the legal counsels of suspects implicated in the December 2023 shooting incident near the W15 Hotel in Weligama.
In a special notice issued today (16), the AG directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) not to arrest six suspects, including the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD), until the investigation is completed.
However, former Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, who is currently absconding, remains wanted for arrest.
The Matara Magistrate’s Court had earlier ordered the arrest of eight individuals, including Tennakoon, in connection with the incident, which involved a clash between police units and resulted in the death of Police Sergeant Upul Chaminda Kumara.
The AG has instructed the CID to record statements from the six suspects without detaining them at this stage.
The W15 Hotel, owned by Mohamed Isham Jamaldeen, the son of former Uva Province Governor A.J.M. Muzammil, was the site of the shooting.
