Update: My husband often said he couldn't face society - Ranga's wife

The testimonies given by his wife and fifteen-year-old daughter regarding the death of Mr. A.M. Ranga Nishantha Rajapaksa (50), Assistant Director of the Department of External Resources at the General Treasury, are published herewith.

Mr. Ranga Nishantha Rajapaksa is the father of two daughters; the elder daughter is a student studying at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa. The younger one is a school student. Mr. Ranga Nishantha's wife is a teacher at Kuliyapitiya Suraduthika Girls' College. Revealing information to the police regarding the incident, Mr. Ranga's 15-year-old daughter, a school student, stated the following.

"When Appachchi (father) was about to leave the house with a knife, I asked him where he was going. Then Appachchi said he was going to clear the garden a bit. When I told him to eat before leaving, he said, 'I'll eat later' and left the house. Appachchi also asked me what there was to eat. I said, 'Appachchi, there are boiled chickpeas.' 'I'll go to the garden and come back quickly,' Appachchi said and went down to the garden. We were ready to go to the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy that evening."

The uncles working in the betel garden said that Appachchi (father) had fallen with bleeding wounds. Later, the people working in the betel garden brought Appachchi home. Blood had flowed from both his legs. Afterwards, we learned that Appachchi had passed away. This evening, we were ready to go worship at the Temple of the Tooth Relic. Oh, how much Appachchi loved us. He always looked out for us. He always told us to study well. Appachchi was very happy the day my elder sister got into university.

Appachchi's (father's) world was my elder sister, me, and mother. It's such a father that we lost. The loss of Appachchi cannot be expressed in words."

The wife of the deceased Mr. Ranga Rajapaksa has stated the following.

"The deceased is my husband. We have two daughters. The elder daughter is studying at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa. I work as a school teacher. We lived a good family life with our children.

My husband's job was suspended in connection with the incident where some funds from the Department of External Resources at the General Treasury were allegedly taken by a hacker. My husband was very sad about it. He was constantly thinking. My husband often said he couldn't face society. He had immense love for me and our two children.

The day before, my husband said that we should go to the Temple of the Tooth Relic, then go to Moratuwa, pick up our daughter from the university, and come home to Kuliyapitiya. So, I went to school, took a short leave, and came home. While we were getting ready to go to Kandy, worship at the Temple of the Tooth Relic, and then go to Moratuwa University to pick up our daughter, this incident happened.

Since he was bleeding from one hand and both legs, I called the Suwa Seriya ambulance service, intending to take him to the hospital quickly. The ambulance arrived, and the personnel who came with it examined him and said that my husband had passed away. Afterwards, I lodged a complaint with the Kuliyapitiya Police regarding this matter.

My husband was a graduate of Sri Jayewardenepura University. My two daughters and I are now alone in this world."

Mr. Ranga Rajapaksa's garden also contains a betel garden. Police sources stated that the on-site investigation revealed that he had gone to a banana bush, leaned against it for support, and cut both his legs with a knife. The knife believed to have been used to cut his legs was also found by the police. Investigations have also revealed that this knife had been in the house for many years. The police say that there was blood on the knife. The police state that Mr. Ranga Rajapaksa fell while walking with bleeding wounds. Later, several workers in the betel garden saw him and carried him home.

Chief Judicial Medical Officer Specialist Dr. Ajith Jayasena of Kuliyapitiya Teaching Hospital, Chief Judicial Medical Officer Specialist Dr. Ilangarathna Banda of Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, Chief Judicial Medical Officer Specialist Dr. Sampath Senathunga of Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital, and Chief Judicial Medical Officer Specialist Dr. U.D.G. Dissanayake of Nikaweratiya Base Hospital have been appointed to conduct the post-mortem examination of the deceased Mr. Ranga Rajapaksa.

This four-member team of specialist judicial medical officers has been appointed by Director General of Health, Mr. Asela Gunawardena. They determined yesterday that this death was a suicide. This conclusion was reached by a committee of specialist judicial medical officers appointed to conduct the post-mortem examination, and it was reported that all injuries on the deceased's body were self-inflicted.