Further investigations into the death of former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne are being conducted by the Western Province South Crimes Division, while the Malabe Police also implement an investigation, the Police Media Division stated.
Former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne died from gunshot wounds at his residence located on Parakrama Mawatha, Thalahena, Malabe yesterday morning (17). It is suspected to be a suicide.
It was revealed that he shot himself after requesting a pistol belonging to one of his security officers.
The former IGP stated that he needed to check the condition of the firearm, and accordingly, the security officer complied with the law by removing the magazine before handing it over.
However, it is currently revealed that after taking the weapon, he carried out the shooting using different ammunition that he possessed.
The 63-year-old former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne was a father of two children.
This incident occurred before he went for morning physical exercises, and his family members were at home at the time.
Police suspect that he took his own life due to personal reasons.
The former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne was rushed to the Colombo East Base Hospital, but he was already dead by then.
Officers in charge of the Western Crimes Division South, Mirihana Crime Scene Investigators, and officers of the Fingerprint Crime Records Division, as well as the Judicial Medical Officer of the Colombo East Base Hospital, arrived at the residence of former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne and later conducted investigations.
Current IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya also arrived at the residence of the former IGP last afternoon to oversee the investigative work, the Hiru correspondent said.
Additionally, the magisterial inquiry into the incident was conducted by Kaduwela Magistrate Aruna Indrajith Buddhadasa.
The Magistrate ordered the police to conduct a formal investigation into this incident and to submit a progress report of the investigation to the court.
This order came after taking into consideration a submission made to the court by the Malabe Police regarding this matter.
Meanwhile, the police recorded statements from the wife of former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne, where she stated that he was under severe trauma due to a legal matter concerning one of their sons.
She mentioned that the son was detained in a prison cell for some time, and that also contributed severely to his trauma.
C.D. Wickramaratne joined the Sri Lanka Police as an Assistant Superintendent of Police on June 16, 1986, and held various positions in the Police Department before being appointed to the post of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police.
Following the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks, the then-IGP Pujith Jayasundara was sent on compulsory leave, and C.D. Wickramaratne was appointed as the Acting IGP.
Subsequently, C.D. Wickramaratne assumed duties as the 35th IGP of the country on November 27, 2020, and he served in that position until November 23, 2023.
C.D. Wickramaratne was scheduled to retire in March 2023, but he received service extensions on four occasions.
Later, he gave statements as a witness regarding the Easter Sunday attacks.
Former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne died from gunshot wounds at his residence located on Parakrama Mawatha, Thalahena, Malabe yesterday morning (17). It is suspected to be a suicide.
It was revealed that he shot himself after requesting a pistol belonging to one of his security officers.
The former IGP stated that he needed to check the condition of the firearm, and accordingly, the security officer complied with the law by removing the magazine before handing it over.
However, it is currently revealed that after taking the weapon, he carried out the shooting using different ammunition that he possessed.
The 63-year-old former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne was a father of two children.
This incident occurred before he went for morning physical exercises, and his family members were at home at the time.
Police suspect that he took his own life due to personal reasons.
The former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne was rushed to the Colombo East Base Hospital, but he was already dead by then.
Officers in charge of the Western Crimes Division South, Mirihana Crime Scene Investigators, and officers of the Fingerprint Crime Records Division, as well as the Judicial Medical Officer of the Colombo East Base Hospital, arrived at the residence of former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne and later conducted investigations.
Current IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya also arrived at the residence of the former IGP last afternoon to oversee the investigative work, the Hiru correspondent said.
Additionally, the magisterial inquiry into the incident was conducted by Kaduwela Magistrate Aruna Indrajith Buddhadasa.
The Magistrate ordered the police to conduct a formal investigation into this incident and to submit a progress report of the investigation to the court.
This order came after taking into consideration a submission made to the court by the Malabe Police regarding this matter.
Meanwhile, the police recorded statements from the wife of former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne, where she stated that he was under severe trauma due to a legal matter concerning one of their sons.
She mentioned that the son was detained in a prison cell for some time, and that also contributed severely to his trauma.
C.D. Wickramaratne joined the Sri Lanka Police as an Assistant Superintendent of Police on June 16, 1986, and held various positions in the Police Department before being appointed to the post of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police.
Following the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks, the then-IGP Pujith Jayasundara was sent on compulsory leave, and C.D. Wickramaratne was appointed as the Acting IGP.
Subsequently, C.D. Wickramaratne assumed duties as the 35th IGP of the country on November 27, 2020, and he served in that position until November 23, 2023.
C.D. Wickramaratne was scheduled to retire in March 2023, but he received service extensions on four occasions.
Later, he gave statements as a witness regarding the Easter Sunday attacks.
