SLC Withheld Payments After Deshabandu Rejected Offer

COLOMBO (News 1st); The parliamentary committee investigating allegations against Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon continued its proceedings with key testimonies from officials representing Sri Lanka Cricket and the Police Department.

The first witness, Tanesh Dias, Senior Human Resources Manager at Sri Lanka Cricket, was questioned by Attorney-at-Law Sanjeewa Weerawickrama, representing IGP Tennakoon. Dias confirmed that no payments were made to Tennakoon and that while an offer was extended to him for the role of Special Security Advisor on August 7, 2023, it was formally declined in writing on November 5, 2023.

Dias also stated that no equipment such as laptops or tablets was provided to Tennakoon. 

When questioned by Committee Chairperson Justice P. Padman Surasena about the wording of the offer letter, Dias admitted that the document did not explicitly use the term “offer” and that he had not attended any committee meetings related to the appointment.

Further questioning by Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris revealed that Tennakoon had not received any salary, allowances, or benefits from Sri Lanka Cricket. Dias confirmed that this was the first instance Sri Lanka Cricket had attempted to engage a public servant in such a capacity and that he had instructed the finance division to withhold any payments following Tennakoon’s refusal.

The second witness, Priyantha Jayatilaka Perera, Chief Accountant of the Police Department, was questioned regarding the Police Reward Fund. He stated that the fund operates under the authority of the IGP and that payments are made based on the IGP’s approval.

When asked whether payments would still be processed if the IGP’s approval was legally questionable, Perera responded that the department does not have the authority to assess the legality of such decisions and acts solely on the IGP’s instructions.

The committee continues to examine the nature of Tennakoon’s alleged appointment and the use of public funds in connection with the case.

Attorney-at-Law Sanjeewa Weerawickrama, representing IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, previously stated that 15 witnesses listed in support of the IGP were scheduled to testify before the committee. However, following today’s proceedings, he informed the committee that the remaining witnesses would not be presented before the committee of inquiry.

Although those witnesses were present before the committee today, the investigation panel recommended that they be released without further testimony.

As a result, only seven witnesses from the IGP’s list were examined, and the proceedings related to his case were concluded today.

The committee is scheduled to reconvene on the 1st of next month at 9:30 a.m., during which testimony will be obtained from two additional witnesses who were overseas on official duty and unable to attend earlier sessions.

Both parties have agreed to submit their written submissions by 3:30 p.m. on the 8th of next month.