Weligama Shooting Revealed as Fabricated Story
14-Jun-2025.
In a significant revelation, it has come to light that the Weligama shooting incident at the W-15 Hotel was part of a fabricated narrative.
Former Chief Inspector of the Colombo Crime Division, Anselm de Silva, stated that it was former Director of the Colombo Crime Division, Assistant Superintendent of Police Neville de Silva, who ordered the team to conduct the shooting at the Weligama hotel.
Anselm de Silva made this statement while testifying before the Parliamentary Committee appointed to investigate allegations against the suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP), Deshabandu Tennakoon.
IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, who was suspended from duty, appeared for the fourth consecutive day on Jun 11, 2025, before the Parliamentary Committee tasked with probing the allegations against him.
During the inquiry session, Additional Solicitor General Dilip Peiris questioned Anselm de Silva, listed as the 24th witness, regarding whether any directive was issued to investigate Nadun Chinthaka, also known as “Harak Kata.” At that time, Anselm de Silva was under suspension.
In response, Anselm de Silva testified:
"On December 30, 2023, then Acting Director of the Colombo Crime Division, Neville de Silva, instructed me to accompany a team to Weligama. He said that a group linked to the underworld was hosting a party at a hotel there. He instructed us to go to the location and fire shots at the wall and the hotel’s name board. I led the team on this mission. After the shooting, as we were moving forward, we heard another round of gunfire. Officer Upul, who had accompanied us, was hit and fell. I told the others to evacuate immediately. Around 20 Special Task Force (STF) members were in a bus nearby. That bus was delayed in departure, and that delay is what saved our lives. Otherwise, we too would have died along with Upul. Neville de Silva lied to us. He claimed that the local Weligama police stations had been informed of the planned shooting."
Additional Solicitor General Dilip Peiris then asked, "Did Deshabandu ask you anything about this incident?"
Anselm de Silva replied, "No."
Peiris then further questioned him, asking, "During the autopsy or the initial CID investigation, you mentioned that a third party carried out the shooting. Who created that story?"
To this, Anselm responded: "After the incident, Neville de Silva came to Weligama and told us that if we stuck to a certain version of the story, there would be no problems. We all agreed to present that narrative in court. We told this concocted story during the inquest, in the Magistrate’s Court, and in our first statement. But we understood that this issue wasn’t going away. Eventually, I went to the CID and told the true version of events."
During the cross-examination, S. Weerawikrama, the lawyer representing Deshabandu Tennakoon, began questioning the witness. He asked: "Even when the order was given to shoot at the W-15 hotel in Weligama, as a police officer, weren’t you aware that firing at property violates criminal law?"
Anselm de Silva replied: "Yes, we were aware. But we did it knowing that, under the orders of Neville de Silva."
The lawyer then asked: "If it was an illegal order, why wasn’t that recorded in your police statement?"
The witness responded: "We don’t always have the option to disobey orders from superiors. If you want to remain in the police force, you must do what your higher-ups instruct. Otherwise, it’s impossible to survive in the service."
When asked why he didn’t report this to higher authorities above Neville de Silva, the witness stated, "Even if I had reported it, it would have made no difference. That’s why I didn’t say anything."
The lawyer also asked about the current whereabouts of the eighth person in the team, noting that only six of the original team of eight are still around, and one had died. The witness responded that the missing individual had left for a foreign country last December.
When questioned about the use of two fake number plates during the operation in Weligama, Anselm explained: "We went in a police vehicle, and its registration details were already recorded. To avoid identification, we used two fake vehicle number plates."
Concluding his testimony, Anselm de Silva said: "Because of the decisions made by senior officers, I have been suspended. I no longer even receive a pension. All officers should take this as a lesson. Instead of carrying out such unlawful orders, it would be better to request a transfer."
This account has sparked widespread attention, as it exposes a disturbing culture of fabricated narratives and blind obedience within parts of the law enforcement system.
