Police probe series of suspicious deaths linked to preacher’s sermons

4 January 2024 09:24 am

• Seven deaths being investigated

Police have initiated investigations into a series of suspicious deaths in recent days, believed  to be suicides, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) now leading the case involving seven individuals who tragically died from consuming poison, prompting authorities to advise caution for households where individuals have been exposed to the sermons of a person known as ‘Ruwan Prasanna Gunaratne’.  

Police Media Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduawa said that all the deceased victims were followers of this particular preacher.  

The initial incident reported from the Kottawa area, where Gunaratne, a religious preacher, was found dead after ingesting poison. Subsequently, the bodies of a young woman and a male were discovered by the police, both suspected to have died from poisoning. These individuals were reportedly followers of Gunaratne and had attended his funeral in the Homagama area. 

 Later, the 21-year-old woman was found dead at her residence in Yakkala, while the body of the 34-year-old male, a resident of Ambalangoda, was discovered in a guest house in Maharagama. Gunaratne, known for his religious preaching activities across the island, was believed to have committed suicide.  

On December 31, Gunaratne’s wife, aged 35, reportedly had committed suicide by consuming poison after administering it to her two sons and daughter at their home in Kahantota, Malabe. The ages of the children were 9, 8, and 7 years, respectively.   

The deceased couple from Yakkala had attended the funeral of the religious preacher.  Police suspect that all seven deaths may be linked to the ingestion of the same type of poison. As investigations continue, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any relevant information with regard to these tragic incidents.