Police probe suspected suicide of former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne

• The former IGP was found with a gunshot wound at his residence

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya 

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. (Chandana Deepal) Wickramaratne is suspected to have died by suicide due to personal reasons, according to preliminary police investigations. 

The Malabe Police and the Western Province South Division Criminal Investigation Branch have launched an investigation after the former IGP was found with a gunshot wound at his residence in Thalahena, Malabe on Friday morning. 

It was reported that around 7:00 AM yesterday, Mr Wickramaratne allegedly requested the firearm from the police officer assigned to his personal security and subsequently used it to shoot himself. Following the incident, he was rushed to the Colombo East Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon admission. 

Police Spokesperson ASP F.U. Wootler said that two specialised teams have been appointed to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the incident, including recording statements from those present at the scene. 

Wickramaratne, 63, joined the Sri Lanka Police in 1986 as a Probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police and served in several senior positions during a career spanning more than three decades. 

He was appointed Acting Inspector General of Police in April 2019 following the removal of Pujith Jayasundara, who was sent on compulsory leave by then-President Maithripala Sirisena. He was then appointed as the 35th Inspector General of Police on November 25, 2020. 

Prior to his appointment as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), he served as the Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) in charge of the Southern Province. Following the series of Easter Sunday terror attacks and the subsequent mandatory leave imposed on the then-IGP, Pujith Jayasundara, he was appointed as the Acting Inspector General of Police. Subsequently, C.D. Wickramaratne assumed duties as the 35th Inspector General of Police of the country on November 25, 2020. After receiving several service extensions, he retired from the police service on November 25, 2023. 

Following the Easter Sunday attacks in April 2019, which were caused by intelligence failures, C.D. Wickramaratne, who served first as Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), provided testimony before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry and the Parliamentary Select Committee investigating the Easter Sunday bombings. 

However, his administrative decisions were also subject to intense criticism, particularly regarding allegations that investigations were slowed down during his tenure due to the transfer of key Criminal Investigation Department (CID) investigators, such as Shani Abeysekara.