Gammanpila demands fresh post-mortem over Finance Ministry official’s death

Colombo, May 4 (Daily Mirror) - While rejecting the post-mortem report on the death of Ranga Nishantha, an Assistant Director at the Ministry of Finance, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila has called for a second post-mortem to be conducted by a new, independent panel.

Speaking at a press conference, Gammanpila raised serious concerns about the transparency of the investigation, noting that Nishantha was a key whistleblower who had recently exposed a major computer fraud within the Ministry.

Gammanpila criticized the medical committee for concluding that the death was a "likely suicide" before essential forensic results had been finalized.

He pointed out that critical pathology and toxicology reports, which would determine whether the victim had been drugged or incapacitated, had not yet been released.

Furthermore, he questioned why the committee did not wait for the Government Analyst’s report on fingerprints found on the weapon or for DNA analysis of bloodstains on the victim's clothing.

According to Gammanpila, drawing a conclusion under these circumstances suggests external pressure to close the case prematurely.

He referenced a letter from the Kuliyapitiya Magistrate to the Director General of Health Services, as well as the Director General's own letter appointing the committee, both of which acknowledged that the victim’s wife had formally complained about the suspicious nature of the death.

"Despite this official recognition of suspicion, the committee allegedly bypassed critical forensic steps," he claimed.

Gammanpila further criticized the selection process for the medical committee, comparing it to selecting tomatoes at a market to achieve a desired result.

He alleged that some members of the committee had close political ties or personal friendships with government officials, which he believes undermines the independence of their findings.

Gammanpila reiterated his call for a second post-mortem examination to be conducted by a new, independent panel. He proposed that the panel should consist of the three most senior Judicial Medical Officers in Sri Lanka to ensure a rigorous and unbiased investigation.

He warned that if the government fails to conduct a credible inquiry, public suspicion toward the administration will continue to grow.