Sri Lanka's police chief surrenders after evading arrest

Sri Lanka’s police chief, Deshabandu Tennakoon, has surrendered to authorities after more than two weeks of hiding. He turned himself in on March 19, 2025, at a magistrate's court in Matara. His arrest was ordered on February 28 in connection with a shooting incident from December 2023. Tennakoon had been on the run since the arrest order was issued. He was sent to remand prison for a day following his surrender. Two days prior, the Court of Appeal rejected his appeal to avoid arrest without holding a hearing. Tennakoon has been suspended since July 2024. The shooting incident occurred when police from Colombo, unaware of an undercover operation at a hotel in Weligama, accidentally opened fire on a police vehicle, killing one officer. In response, police sought help from the public to capture Tennakoon and deployed six teams to find him. The Supreme Court had suspended Tennakoon after determining his appointment was under review due to a prior conviction for torture. An acting police chief was appointed in his place. During a recent search of his home in Hokandara, police confiscated items, including over 1,200 bottles of liquor and personal weapons. Tennakoon’s wife has claimed that the police searched their house without a warrant.