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Nugagaha Kapalle Illangakoon (born 12 April 1956) was the 33rd Sri Lankan Inspector-General of Police, serving from 16 July 2011 to 11 April 2016. He also served as an advisor to the Ministry of Defence.

Early life and education

Nugagaha Kapalle Illangakoon was born on 12 April 1956 in Balangoda, the youngest in a family of five. He received his education at Udagama Maha Vidyalaya in Balangoda before attending University of Colombo in 1974, where he graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Education. He taught Mathematics and Social Science at Hambegamuwe Maha Vidyalaya in Thanamalwila.

Police career

In 1982 Illangakoon joined the Police Service as a Probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police. His first appointment was as the Assistant Superintendent in-charge of the Kurunegala District. He served in Jaffna, Ampara and Batticaloa as Area Commander. In 1983 he was one of the officers responsible for establishing the Police Special Task Force (STF), serving as the Task Force's first Deputy Commandant. Illangakoon was appointed as the Director Special Branch in 1999 and promoted to Deputy Inspector General of Police.

On 16 July 2011 he was appointed as Inspector-General of Police, replacing the outgoing Inspector-General Mahinda Balasuriya. He retired on 11 April 2016 after five years in the position.

Later work

Following the deadly Easter bomb attacks, Illangakoon was appointed as an advisor to the Ministry of Defence in April 2019, and appointed a member of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Attacks headed by Justice Vijith Malalgoda, and including former Law and Order Ministry Secretary, Padmasiri Jayamanne, tasked with investigating the causes and background for the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings.

References

1. "President appoints new Defence Secretary and CJ". NewsFirst.lk. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
2. ^ "Profile of Mr. N.K. Illangakoon". Sri Lanka Police Service. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
3. ^ Sriyananda, Shanika (8 January 2012). "No political influence in investigations – Police Chief". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
4. "IGP N. K. Illangakoon protected dignity of office – President". Office of President of Sri Lanka. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
5. "Picking up the Pieces". The Daily News. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
6. "Report of the three-member committee appointed to probe terrorist attacks will be opened for all - President". Colombo Page. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.

• 1956 births
• Alumni of the University of Sri Lanka (Colombo)
• Sinhalese people
• Sri Lankan Buddhists
• Sri Lankan Inspectors General of Police
• Living people