CD was shot by mistake - there was no disappointment - Family members

The controversial death of former IGP Chandana Wickramaratne was caused by the accidental discharge of a firearm, according to his close associates, and the forensic medical report regarding this is expected to be released soon. This unfortunate incident occurred last Friday morning when the 63-year-old retired senior officer was preparing to leave for his usual morning walk with his wife, Mrs. Priyangi, and his personal security officer.

At the time of the incident, Mr. Wickramaratne, dressed in sportswear and a white cotton t-shirt, was seated on the veranda of his house, waiting for his wife to put on her shoes. There, he saw a modern revolver belonging to his security officer and asked to examine it, even making a joke about whether it had bullets. Accordingly, the security officer removed the magazine and handed it to him. Subsequently, when the security officer went to fetch a water bottle from the pantry, a single gunshot was heard. The former IGP, bleeding from a gunshot wound to the chest, was immediately admitted to Mulleriyawa Hospital, but it was reported that he had already passed away by then.

The post-mortem examination regarding the incident was conducted last Friday itself, and the judicial medical officer has taken several samples for further investigation. The report detailing the exact cause of death is expected to be presented at the magisterial inquiry scheduled for next Wednesday. Initially, Police Media Spokesperson F. U. Wuttler had stated to local media that it was a suicide committed with the security officer's firearm. However, a subsequent official written statement issued by the police retracted the suicide claim, stating only that he had died due to injuries sustained from a gunshot.

Currently, two police teams are conducting extensive investigations into this death, and CCTV footage installed at Mr. Wickramaratne's residence has also been examined. According to preliminary observations, there are no signs of forced entry into the house. Forensic medical observations note that while self-inflicted gunshot wounds typically occur to the head, in this incident, the shot was to the chest area, which has drawn special attention. However, experts point out that such patterns are not definitive factors in determining whether it was a suicide, and a final conclusion can only be reached through full forensic medical and ballistic examination reports.

Meanwhile, family members of the former IGP strongly reject the suicide theory, citing his cheerful demeanor in the days leading up to his death. At the time of his passing, he had an appointment scheduled for an eye examination and had also planned to meet a school friend on Saturday. Furthermore, he had accepted an invitation to a birthday party scheduled for July 31st and had asked the organizer to remind him two days prior. On the morning of his death, even minutes before the incident, he had sent 'Good Morning' messages via WhatsApp to his close friends. His family states that he was not suffering from any form of depression, confirming that just days before his death, he had attended an Ananda College alumni gathering and spent a very joyful time dining with friends.

Family members also reject social media rumors suggesting that Mr. Chandana Wickramaratne was deeply distressed due to a family dispute involving his younger son, who is facing a contentious divorce case. They also state that reports circulating last week about his son being taken into custody during a court proceeding are false and exaggerated. A family member has stated that no such remand or imprisonment in cells occurred. Mr. Wickramaratne deeply loved his seven-month-old granddaughter and had eagerly looked forward to taking her to school. Additionally, he was writing a book on cultural beliefs and traditions, and had sent its manuscripts to his close friends for editing.

Although mainstream and social media speculated a connection between this death and the statement given by Mr. Chandana Wickramaratne to officers investigating the Easter Sunday attacks, senior police officers have dismissed this theory. He had provided a statement in 2020 explaining the series of events related to the Easter attacks investigations, the contents of which were also reported to the Fort Magistrate on May 11, 2026. Therefore, that statement is already public, and officers who reviewed it say there is nothing new or alarming in it. Mr. Chandana Wickramaratne, who was appointed as Sri Lanka's 35th Inspector General of Police on November 25, 2020, retired in 2023 after receiving three short service extensions. Having served as acting IGP since May 2019 after former IGP Pujith Jayasundara was sent on compulsory leave, Mr. Wickramaratne also holds the record for being the longest-serving acting IGP in Sri Lankan history.