CID officials recently conducted extensive searches at five locations, believed to be linked to the whereabouts of former Inspector General of Police, Deshabandu Tennakoon.
Tennakoon, who has been suspended following a court order for his arrest.
Searches were conducted at two residences in major housing complexes near Colombo, along with three other properties located in Colombo and Kurunegala.
Despite the thorough investigations, authorities reported that no significant leads regarding the former IGP’s location were uncovered.
The Matara Magistrate’s Court had issued an arrest order on February 27, 2025, for Tennakoon and five other officers. The charges are related to an incident that occurred on December 31, 2023, when members of the Colombo Crime Branch allegedly opened fire on the W15 Hotel in Weligama, a popular tourist destination in the Matara area. During the altercation, one sergeant from the Crime Branch was killed, and another officer sustained injuries.
The W15 Hotel is owned by Hisham (Hardy) Jamaldeen, the son of former Uva Provincial Governor – A.J.M. Mohammed.
The case is currently under investigation, with the CID working to apprehend the individuals involved.
As of now, the search for Deshabandu Tennakoon and the other suspects is continuing.
One of the two persons injured in the Kandana shooting today (June 03) has succumbed.
The other victim – Mr. Sameera Manahara is currently receiving further treatment at Ragama Hospital. According to reports, his condition is not critical.
(Previous news 2025 July 03 – 11.03 am)
Pvt. secretary of late minister injured in shooting
A shooting incident has been reported in Kandana this morning (July 03).
Reportedly, two people traveling in a car were shot near the Kandana Public Market.
According to reports, Sameera Manahara, who served as the private secretary of late Minister Mangala Samaraweera, has been injured in the shooting.
The two injured individuals have been admitted to the Ragama Hospital, police say.
Investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the assailants.
Former Minister Mervyn Silva and two other individuals were granted bail today (July 03) by the Gampaha Provincial High Court.
They were released on a cash bail of Rs. 200,000 and five personal sureties of Rs. 5,000,000 each.
Additionally, the court imposed overseas travel bans on them.
The defendants were strictly warned to refrain from influencing witnesses and were ordered to report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) every Sunday.The defendants were previously remanded over allegations of selling a state-owned land in the Kiribathgoda area using forged deeds.
Monara TV, launched with much fanfare just a year ago under the Swarnavahini media network, has reportedly shut down operations.
Employees have been informed that the closure is temporary, citing the need to resolve certain administrative issues.
The channel, led by Buddhika Wickramadhara, was ceremonially launched on June 25, 2024, with a grand event at Waters Edge.
Producers who supplied teledramas to Monara TV say they are owed nearly Rs.200 million in unpaid dues.
Meanwhile, it is reported that the parent Swarnavahini TV channel is also reportedly grappling with a serious financial crisis, paying teledrama producers only after 60 episodes are broadcast.
Producers claim they are compelled to wait about 03 months to recover an investment of around Rs.15 million per teledrama. Even then, payments are made in small portions, covering just 05 episodes at a time.
Producers who supplied teledramas before the appointment of Mr. Susara Dinal as CEO say it is even harder to claim their outstanding payments, as they have been asked to recover the dues from former CEO – Udara Wijesinghe.
The Swarnavahini Media Network is owned by Subaskaran Allirajah – Chairman of Lyca Group, which also owns Lycamobile, a global telecommunications company.
