Sri Lankan Parliament Removes Police Chief Tennakoon for Misconduct

Colombo, Aug 5 (PTI) The Sri Lankan Parliament voted on Tuesday to remove suspended police chief Deshabandu Tennakoon from his position due to misconduct. After a comprehensive day-long debate, 177 members supported his removal, while only one abstained from voting. Tennakoon was found guilty of 19 out of 23 misconduct charges brought against him. This marks the first instance in the department’s 159-year history where its head has been impeached. In March, a motion was signed by 115 parliamentary members advocating for his dismissal, prompting the formation of a parliamentary committee in April to examine Tennakoon’s misuse of authority. Last month, the inquiry committee concluded that he was guilty of misconduct and serious abuse of power, recommending his removal from office. Tennakoon, who took on the role of Inspector General of Police in 2023, faced suspension in July 2024 by the Supreme Court due to questions over the legality of his appointment. Notably, he was appointed to this role despite a prior Supreme Court ruling finding him guilty of torturing a person in custody, as highlighted in a fundamental rights petition.

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