Former Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickramaratne has been found dead at his residence in Athurugiriya in what has been reported as a suspected suicide, according to sources. Reports indicate that the former police chief died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, although official confirmation on the circumstances surrounding his death has not been detailed.
Family sources who spoke to the Sri Lanka Guardian said Wickramaratne had been facing significant personal difficulties related to the divorce case involving one of his sons. The sources described him as being under deep distress over the family matter but no official statement has been issued confirming that account.
Separate sources also claimed that Wickramaratne used a pistol belonging to his personal security officer to take his own life. That claim has not been independently confirmed by authorities, and no official announcement has been made regarding the firearm reportedly involved in the incident.
Wickramaratne served in the Sri Lanka Police for more than three decades and held several senior positions before becoming the country’s 35th Inspector General of Police. Prior to his appointment as the head of the police department, he served as the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Southern Province, overseeing policing responsibilities in the region.
His elevation to the country’s top policing position followed the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bomb attacks, when then-Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara was placed on compulsory leave. Wickramaratne was subsequently appointed as Acting Inspector General of Police, assuming leadership of the force during a period of heightened national attention and institutional transition.
He was formally confirmed as Inspector General of Police on November 25, 2020. Wickramaratne remained in office until his retirement on November 25, 2023, concluding a policing career that spanned more than 30 years. His tenure included leading the Sri Lanka Police through a period marked by significant operational and administrative responsibilities.
The reports surrounding Wickramaratne’s death have drawn attention because of his former role as the country’s highest-ranking police officer. While family sources have linked his state of mind to personal issues involving his son’s divorce proceedings, and separate sources have alleged that a personal security officer’s pistol was used in the incident, those claims remain sourced to individuals familiar with the matter and have not been officially confirmed by the relevant authorities.
Authorities have not publicly released further details regarding the circumstances of the death. The reported cause of death, the alleged use of a firearm belonging to a personal security officer, and the personal issues cited by family sources remain subject to official confirmation as investigations and any related inquiries proceed.
