Four-member forensic panel appointed for suspended official’s post-mortem

Colombo, May 1 (Daily Mirror) - The Health Ministry Secretary has said that a panel of four expert forensic medical specialists has been appointed to conduct the post-mortem examination of the Assistant Director of the Department of Foreign Resources, who had been suspended in connection with the alleged $2.5 million incident linked to the Treasury.

The development comes after the body of one of the four Finance Ministry officials under investigation in connection with the case was discovered in the garden of his residence yesterday afternoon in the Pahalaweerambuwa area of Kuliyapitiya.

The deceased has been identified as Ranga Nishantha, a 50-year-old Assistant Director of the Department of Foreign Resources. Reports indicate that he had sustained stab wounds at the time his body was found.

Police initially said the death was being treated as a suspected suicide. However, Police Media Spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Minura Senarath, said the exact cause and manner of death will be determined following the post-mortem examination scheduled for today.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department had previously summoned the officer for questioning in connection with the ongoing investigation. While it was initially reported that he had not appeared before investigators, authorities later confirmed that he had, in fact, reported for questioning and had handed over electronic devices, including a laptop computer, to assist with the investigation.