Attack on Galle Face protesters: CID seeks AG’s advice

• On May 23, the Attorney General had instructed the IGP to transfer Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon with immediate effect

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

The CID conducting investigations into the attack on Galle Face protesters on May 9 has sought Attorney General’s advice regarding future legal action against the suspects.   

When the case pertaining to the matter came up before Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage, the CID informed Court that they have concluded preliminary investigations into the incident and abstracts of the investigation have been forwarded to the Attorney General for his advice.  

Meanwhile President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne moved Court to name Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon as a suspect for abetting and for his negligence of duty to prevent the mob attack, being the most senior police officer at the crime scene. President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne submitted to court that the Magistrate can make an appropriate order against Deshabandu Tennakoon in terms of section 7 of Code of Criminal Procedure Act and section 59 of Judicature Act.  However, Magistrate Thilina Gamage refrained from issuing an order in this regard but observed that CID has failed to conduct investigations in accordance with the instructions given by Attorney General. The Director of Police Special Investigation Unit was ordered to submit a report to ascertain whether Senior DIG Tennakoon had interfered with the investigations pertaining to Aragalaya incident.  On May 23, the Attorney General had instructed the IGP to transfer Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon with immediate effect to prevent unnecessary intervention into the investigations relating to the attacks on peaceful protesters.  In this case, parliamentarians Sanath Nishantha, Johnston Fernando, and Milan Jayathilake and leader of Nawa Sinhale National Organisation Dan Priyasad and several others were named as suspects.  Further magisterial inquiry fixed for January 11.