Career Milestones
Jaffna Division
Vavuniya Division
Nuwara Eliya Division
Colombo Range
Commandant - Reserve Police Headquarters
Assistant Superintendent of Police. Anuradhapura
Deputy Inspector General, Southern Range and North Western Range
Senior DIG - Chilaw Range

More About Kotakadeniya
His Family
Biography

Heenkenda Mudiyanselage Gnanatileke Bandara (H.M.G.B.) Kotakadeniya was born in Kandana in the Gampaha District in the year 1942.He had his secondary education at St Sylvester’s College Kandy and gained entrance to the University of Ceylon Peradeniya in the year 1960 and graduated in Economics in the year 1964.He obtained his LLb Degree from the Open University in the year 1998.

He displayed his leadership potential at this early age by being elected Hall President of the Jayatileke Hall and General Secretary of the Students Council of the University in the year 1963. He also held the post of the Vice President of the Inter-University Students’ Federation the same year.

He spent one year after his university career as a teacher, before being selected as an Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1966, a coveted post at that time, coming first in the batch of two applicants who gained admission to the Police Training College, Kalutara. He passed both the Administrative and the Overseas Service Examination held the same year, but opted to continue in the Police Service since he felt that he had the capacity and the dedication to serve the public in a positive and a rewarding manner in the capacity of a Police officer.

He had his overseas training at the Australian Police College, Sydney, Australia, Bramshill Police College, United Kingdom, Japanese International Cooperation Agency, Tokyo and the Administrative Staff College, Hyderabad, India.

He has represented the Police Department at several conferences and seminars locally and overseas in Japan, India, Nepal, France, Cypress, USA and Mongolia.

He rose to the rank of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in the year 1995 and retired from the service in 2002 having being denied the opportunity to be promoted as IGP both in 1998 and 2001.

He had a checkered career in his police Department which spanned 36 long years. His unwavering devotion to honesty integrity and public service was the golden thread that ran conspicuously through his whole career. His stubborn refusal to comply with illegal and unreasonable directions given by the political bosses and the police hierarchy made him a controversial and maverick element in the police but won the goodwill and admiration of the general public. The interest of the country and the citizens was of paramount importance to him and he was fearless even to be openly critical of the Police hierarchy when it demonstrated unmistakable signs of being steeped in corruption and debauchery. He has been one of the officers who had been in the forefront in the fight against separatist terrorism and who was for the very same reason discriminated against and tormented by his superiors.

This factor needs to be illustrated with examples as it broadly reflected the obstacles that the police service and the security forces had to encounter and surmount in the discharge of their duties.

Jaffna Division
In the year 1984 Jaffna erupted in terrorist violence and the few Sinhalese and the security forces present were being attacked by the terrorists. Naga Viharaya-the revered Buddhist Temple in the Jaffna Town- was attacked and desecrated by the terrorists. The situation was spinning out of control and the Police Department had to take extraordinary measures to prevent the situation from deteriorating. Kotakadeniya was appointed as Superintendent of Police( Operations )assisted by two Assistant Superintendents and dispatched to Jaffna by road. On one particular day reliable information was received that the Naga Vihara Temple was to be attacked again. Kotakadeniya made preparations to ambush and attack the terrorists, and when permission was sought from the DIG,( Northern Province) for the operation, it was denied for the ostensible reason that if at all the information was reliable, the would be attackers would be innocent civilians whose motive to attack would be to avenge the shelling of a church, allegedly by the army. One shell had hit the wall of a church and caused damage to a wall. Kotakadeniya was taken to task for this “crime” and the DIG recommended his immediate transfer adding that he should never be posted for duty where ethnic and religious minorities are in a majority. Kotakadeniya came back to Colombo but ASP Jayasundara who went to Jaffna with him was killed along with the Brigadier in charge of Jaffna at that time. back to top

Vavuniya Division
In 1985 the entire Wanni and Northern Province was targeted by the LTTE terrorists. Senior Superintendent of Police Vavuniya Division,( which encompassed Vavuniya,Mannar, Killinochchi and Mullaithiv Didtricts at that time),- Arther Herath- was killed in his office by LTTE terrorists.On 4/2/1985, Kotakadeniya ,who was serving at Police Headquarters was immediately summoned by the IG Police Mr Rudra Rajasingham and ordered to take charge of the Vavuniya Division. Kotakadeniya pointed out to the IGP the strictures passed on him for doing his sacred duty in Jaffna just a few months ago, The IGP told the hapless Kotakadeniya- tongue in cheek- that he was granting him pardon for his sins and ordered him to proceed and face the challenge. He was immediately flown to Vavuniya by helicopter.

The security situation in the Vavuniya Police Division was bewildering and in tatters. The Vavuniya town itself was under the control of the unseen enemy and the police was virtually confined to the barracks with no police officer venturing out of the police station premises. Kotakadeniya took charge of the situation. The Oddusudan Police Station had been attacked and overrun by the terrorists the same day they killed the SSP Arther Herath and reinforcements sent from the Field Force Headquarters, Colombo, to proceed to Oddusudan to rescue the beleaguered police officers were found marooned in Vavunia unable and unwilling to undertake the task. Kotakadeniya personally led the policemen to Oddusudan-a distance of over sixty KM- the same night and stabilized the situation facing many dangers and ambushes. The men displayed amazing willingness to cooperate and act under the leadership of Kotakadeniya. He deployed ambush patrols and mobile, foot and ambush patrols in the entire division and on many occasions took an active part in such field operations thus leading from the front. He never permitted the terrorist to establish road blocks and traveled with his team in civilian clothes in public transport along with ordinary passengers to take the terrorists by surprise. It was he who got Police Headquarters approval to post an ASP to each police station to lift the sagging morale of the lower ranks who protested that the senior officers were hiding in the main police stations exposing the rank and file to danger.

Before the end of Kotakadeniya's six months spell, the Tiger radio announced that he had been condemned to death along with GA Mullaitiuv by Prabhakaran. The GA-Mr K.Gnanachandran- was killed at Killinchchi where he was dragged out of the bus he was traveling in and shot dead. He was one of those illustrious Tamil Public servants who refused to take order from the LTTE terrorists. But Kotakadeniya survived. Kotakadeniya has to his credit the first written commendation by an Inspector General of Police ever given to an officer for the good services rendered in an operational area. Thee were objections raised by some senior police officers against granting of such a commendation for the ostensible reason that there was no precedence. But Mr Tyrrel Gunatileke who was the DIG Northern Province brushed such protests aside. The commendation ,inter alia, said that

"Mr Kotakaseniya took charge of the Division at very short notice and with great personal effort and courage brought about a conspicuous improvement in the morale of all ranks in the Division and won the confidence of the public. The leadership displayed by him greatly helped to contain and de-escalate the activities of the terrorists in that area.

Mr H.M.G.B.Kotakadeniya is highly commended for his contribution to the Department as Superintendent of Police, Vavuniya Division."

The SSP who was ordered to succeed him refused to face the challenge and resigned from the service only to be brought back to the service after Chandrika Bandaranayake became the President of the country after ten years of his resignation. He was paid Rs 2 million as back wages and was given a double promotion as a Senior DIG. He was crowned as the IGP in 1998.Kotakadeniya has seen him advising policemen to proceed to operational areas "without fear and without protesting like cowards". back to top

Nuwara Eliya Division
In 1986 the Nuwara Eliya and Hatton Districts witnessed a well organized and treacherous attempt by the terrorists to de-stabilize the security of the area and ethnically cleanse the area of the Sinhalese in an attempt to create the state of Malaynadu. A trade union leader who ironically is a Minister presently, orchestrated the conspiracy. Sinhalese including Sinhala estate superintendents were being attacked and killed. The Sinhalese were fleeing the area in large numbers and refugee camps had to established to house them and save their lives. The Police was unable to secure the area. A Police patrol was ambushed and two men were missing. Credible information was received that the dead body of PC Priyadharshana was seen floating in a stream in the Agrapathana Police area. All road were obstructed by felled trees. The police were unwilling to proceed to the scene to recover the dead body of their own colleague who had been murdered in the line of duty. Posters were displayed warning the Sinhalese to leave the area in ten days. The Jaffna scenario was been enacted.

Kotakadeniya was summoned by the IGP, Mr Cyril Herath and ordered to take control of the situation. He proceeded willingly and promptly and his first act was to visit the Thalawakelle Police Station and speak to the men and appeal to them to take courage and face the situation. With his reputation as an fearless officer dedicated to the upholding of the integrity of the Police, he was able to galvanize them to action. He proceeded to Agrapathana promptly with the Police and with the able assistance of of the small body of military men available, cutting and removing trees and boulders and exchanging fire with terrorists directing fire from mountain tops. He reached the Agrapathana Police station and thereafter proceeded to the stream where the hacked dead body of PC Priyadarshana was recovered. His companion, a Police sergeant came out of hiding and was taken back to the safety of the Police station.

Kotakadeniya thereafter brought about a quick improvement of the security situation by following a firm course of action. The exodus ceased and the Sinhalese went back to their villages and places of residence. But there remained one locality where the terrorists were putting up a last ditch resistance like in Puthukudiyiruppu. This was in the Thalawekele police area where the planters were ambushed and attacked and not permitted to even go to their bungalows. Kotakadeniya preceded to the danger spot with six men and HQI Jayasekera of Nuwara Eliya, around 10:00 PM and were ambushed and surrounded by a gang of men armed with clubs, bicycle chains swords etc. Seven of them were arrested and brought to Nuwara Eliya Police Station and were to be produced before the Magistrate the following morning. However the estates in the area had gone on strike demanding the release of the arrested men. The coordinating officer of the area- a senior DIG -called for the explanation of Kotakadeniya for entering the estates without the approval of the trade unions and ordered the men be released from custody. Kotakadeniya told him that as the Superintendent in charge of the Police Division he had the lawful authority to enforce law and order in the area and informed the senior officer that the terrorists would be produced before the magistrate who would deal with any bail application made by the accused. The result was that Kotakadeniya was transferred back to Colombo after which the accused were taken in police vehicles back to the spot where they were arrested. This was the demand made by the Trade Unions. Thousands of labourers gathered to welcome them and the Police were hooted at . Thus was the humiliation the police were subjected to, for doing their duty. On return to Police Headquarteres the coordinating officer pressurized the IGP Cyril Herath to serve charges against Kotakadeniya which was turned down by the IGP. back to top

Colombo Range
It was the short spell of tenure as Senior DIG in charge of the Colombo Range in 1996 that made him well known and earned him the accolades and goodwill of the law abiding citizens of the country. It also, ironically earned him the wrath of the politicians and the whole caboodle of terror -backers and denied him the well deserved claim to head the Police Department as the IGP.

He was put in charge of the Colombo Range at a time when the security situation was fast deteriorating with thousands of LTTE terrorists infiltrating the metropolis with their arms and ammunition. Kotakadeniya accepted the challenge and immediately planed a well orchestrated strategy to meet the challenge with the help of the armed services and the public. The cooperation he received from both sources was overwhelming. The terrorists were arrested after mass raids and were denied the opportunity of living in the safety of the notorious lodges which were run under the patronage of the LTTE. Action was taken to probe the activities of the NGOO and religious organizations that were actively promoting terror and to stop the flow of funds to the terrorists. Extensive raids were conducted to uncover caches of arms and ammunition. These raids nabbed a Tamil suspect with the blue plan of the structure of the World Trade Centre in Fort, suggesting that the LTTE was planning to bring down the Towers, long before Al-Quida even contemplated of destroying the Twin Towers in New York. A Tamil employee who smuggled kerosene oil in a flask to the top floor of the Bank of Ceylon tower was also arrested. The first suspect who was sent to Colombo by the LTTE to assassinate the President -Mugunthan- was arrested. The headquarters of the National Christian Council At Bullers Road was raided, after obtaining a search warrant, and a large quantity of anti-national documents were recovered including anti- Sudu Nelum Movement posters designed by an American Missionary- Kenneth Paul Murder-.On 21/7/85 he was arrested in the company of the Bishop of Jaffna, Rev Jebanesem on his way to Jaffna at the Vavuniya road block with a large haul of anti government posters and was deported from the Country. This action earned the displeasure of President Kumratunga who summoned Kotakadeniya to Temple Trees and admonished him for not consulting her on vital matters having international ramifications. She told him that it is only the fear that the Buddhist Priests would rise in protest-"Hamuduruweru mage oluwa kai"- that prevented her from rescinding the deportation order.

The anti-terror operations conducted by Kotakadeniya prompted the anti-national forces including Thondaman(Snr),the NGOO ,certain religious organization, leftists, the Colombo underworld et el to launch a concerted and synergetic campaign to remove Kotakadeniya from Colombo. The then IGP failed to stand by Kotakadeniya and used the opportunity to post his man to succeed Kotakadeniya. The latter was removed with immediate effect and Thondaman expressed his glee and elation openly, thanking the President for her sagacity, alleging that Kotakadeniya harassed innocent Tamils,. Kotakadeniya denied this allegation publicly and made a statement to the press refuting the allegation and offering to resign from the Police if the allegation could be proved. The IGP instead recommended to the Ministry that Kotakadeniya should be disciplinarily dealt with for making a statement to the press without the IGP's approval. The Defense Ministry however did not concur but advised Kotakadeniya against speaking to the press. Thanks for small mercies! back to top

Commandant - Reserve Police Headquarters
Kotakadeniya was transferred to Reserve Police Headquarters. He did not last long there either. The reserve police was administering the affairs of over 30,000 officers who were mainly deployed in operational duties in the north and the East fighting terrorism. The headquarters complex consisted of two buildings , one of which was an old and well appointed colonial bungalow replete with Burma teak fittings and paneling located at Longdon Place, Colombo 7.The IGP suggested that it be demolished to construct a modern state of the art swimming pool for the officers. Kotakadeniya pointed out that this idea should not even be broached at a time when we were fighting a war against terrorism and a swimming pool in the high security zone was an inappropriate location for water sports. The result was again the transfer of Kotakadeniya to a position newly created -Senior DIG- Civil Defense- with absolutely no staff under him and with no functions to perform. The headquarters was pulled down and the teak fittings vanished but the swimming pool was never constructed at the location. Kotakadeniya used the idle time in the new post to study law at the Open University and obtained his LLB in 1998.Kotakadeniya is remembered by the Police Reservists as the man who initiated the scheme to pay them a monthly salary in place of wages compiled on daily rate and for pioneering the scheme to pay them a pension.

In the same year the gentleman who resigned from the service when transferred to Vavunia was made the IGP. Kotakadeniya who should have been put in charge of Administration was made the S/DIG Crimes and Criminal Intelligence. When Kotakadeniya attempted to arrest the Don of the Colombo Mafia _Nawala Nihal- and he surrendered to Kotakadeniya, the IGP told Kotakadeniya not to do operational work and confine his functions to office work and only to draw up a strategy to combat crime. When Kotakadeniya spoke to the press on issues relating to the proliferation of organized crime and the complicity and collusion of senior police officers in such crimes , the IGP transferred him to a post held by a Superintendent of Police.

Kotakadeniya had to file a writ application against the IGP and the Court of Appeal held that the IGP's order was ultra virus and ordered the cancellation of the transfer. The IGP appealed against the judgment in the Supreme Court but the Supreme Court upheld the Court of Appeal order and ordered the IGP to pay Kotakadeniya Rs 5000 as compensation. The transfer was cancelled but the compensation was never paid and the IGP continued to torment Kotakadeniya by resorting to many despicable and loathsome means and left no stones unturned to ensure that Kotakadeniya did not succeed him as the IGP when he died in 2002. Anandarajah who was five years Kotakadeniya’s junior was openly groomed to be his successor and on the recommendations of Ranil Wickramasingha , the President recommended Anandrajah's name, with aplomb to the Constitutional Council and he was made the IGP. His name was recommended despite his dubious reputation as the person who as DIG of the North-East left 700 policemen in the lurch and fled to Colombo leaving them to be slaughtered by the LTTE. He was subsequently caught hobnobbing with drug barons and had to retire in ignominy. back to top

Assistant Superintendent of Police. Anuradhapura
Kotakadeniya despite his reputation as a tough police officer was always mindful of protecting human rights even during turbulent periods when human rights was prone for violation. He was ASP Anuradhapura District during the JVP uprising in 1971.Although he dealt with the situation firmly as a young officer, he did not allow unnecessary killing s or detentions. There are thousands of men and women who escaped summary punishment due his intervention including D.M.Ariyadasa. UNP MP for Madawachchiya who made a statement in Parliament, praising Kotakadeniya for saving his life. One of the first acts Kotakadeniya did when he took over Vavunia Division in 1995 was to release 14 young men who had been ordered to be detained without entries and with no evidence against them by a senior officer. He continued to be concerned about the human rights of the Tamils and did not allow them to be violated ,thus winning the acceptance of the Tamils and commendation from the Department. back to top

Deputy Inspector General, Southern Range and North Western Range
Kotakadeniya stuck to this noble and exalted principle when he was appointed as DIG Southern Range in 1987 during the second JVP insurrection. He stood against arbitrary treatment meted out to JVP suspects and their kith and kin . Hostage taking was common in order to nab JVP suspects. On one occasion Kotakadeniya found more than 300 hostages detained at the Hambantota Police Station and more than 20 suspects including six Buddhist monks detained ia a cell 10 by 10 in dimension and all suffering from fever and diarrhea, with one toilet to serve all. Kotakadeniya took immediate steps grant them relief and bail out those against whom no evidence was available. The SSP in charge who was notorious for human rights violations reported against Kotakadeniya resulting in his immediate transfer to the North Western Range.

Kotakadeniya continued to adhere to his cherished values undeterred even in the new assignment .On 26/8/1987 he visited the Gampaha Police Station and found three young girls detained for more than five weeks without any rhyme or reason. He ordered them bailed out and handed them over to their parents to be produced if required by police. This prompted the very same SSP in the Western Range who was close to the then Education Minister Ranil Wickramasingha to convince the latter that Kotakadeniya was conducting in that manner because he was anti-UNP. After a summary inquiry, he was sent on compulsory leave and was reinstated on 14/02/1989 after the conclusion of a disciplinary inquiry which lasted one and half long years. The three girls filed a FR case against Police and the Bench, comprising of Justice Athukorale, mark Fernando and Ranjith Dheeraratne held that their fundamental rights had been violated and directed the state to pay them Rs 5000 each as compensation and 1500 as costs. The order further stated that "the DIG (Kotakadeniya) was an officer who was competent to order the release of the two petitioners". back to top

Senior DIG - Chilaw Range
In 1997, civil commotion and unrest occurred in the Chilw Division due to widespread protests staged against the establishment of the Voice of America transmission station. Police opened fire causing the death of one civilian and injuring others. The DIG and the SSP were found to be incompetent to control the situation. Kotakadeniya was once again sent in charge, and once again restored law and order quickly. He was sent back to Headquarters after normalcy returned.

Thus was the saga where Kotakadeniya was selected and used with success when the Police Department required his services and discarded thereafter. As a matter of fact the explanation of Kotakadeiya was called for in 1997 for not retiring him for general inefficiency ,at the behest of the officer who was aspiring to be the next IGP at that time ,bypassing Kotakadeniya who was senior to the former. This threat was withdrawn when Kotakadeniya enlightened the Ministry that there was no question of general inefficiency with regard to him, since he had earned and won all his previous increments and promotions.

Kotakadeniya also cherished the values close to the hearts of the ordinary man. He was associated in animal rights activities and did not hesitate to articulate his views openly. On several occasions he was reprimanded by his superiors who were sympathetic to the cattle dealers and butchers. In 1978 his transfer ordered from Badulla to Ratnpura Davison as SSP was cancelled at the last moment due to protests made by butchers in Ratnapura.

Kotakadeniya as S/DIG Crimes was in charge of the Police Narcotics Bureau and the officers working under him had the freedom to conduct operations unhindered, resulting in the arrest of big time drug barons and detection of large quantities of drugs. He was also a member of the Presidential Task Force against Drugs, Narcotics and illicit Liquor.He also rendered service as a member of the Task Force on Tourism.He made endeavours to rid our beaches of the scourge of touts and pimps, which is one major reasons preventing the promotion of Sri Lanka as a popular tourist destination. But this ended in failure due to interference by local politicians under whom the touts were organized as a mafia, controlling vital areas of the tourist industry. He also served the interests of women and children when he supervised the work of the Women and Children’s Bureau of the Police Department. back to top


His Family>>

Copyright © 2009 H.M.G.B. Kotakadeniya