Former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne, who led Sri Lanka Police after the 2019 Easter attacks, has died after shooting himself at his residence.
Former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne, Sri Lanka’s 35th Inspector General of Police, has died after shooting himself at his residence. Police confirmed that the former police chief was found with a fatal gunshot wound from his service firearm.
The incident occurred at his home in Thalahena, Athurugiriya. Police Spokesperson Assistant Superintendent of Police F.U. Wootler confirmed the details of the former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne’s death. His remains have been placed at the Mulleriyawa Hospital.
A Career Spanning Over Three Decades
C.D. Wickramaratne joined the Sri Lanka Police Service in 1986 as a Probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police. He served for more than 30 years, holding numerous key operational commands . He was also an alumnus of the University of Colombo and the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University .
He assumed the role of Acting Inspector General of Police on April 28, 2019. This followed the Easter Sunday terror attacks, a period of national crisis . He was officially appointed as the 35th Inspector General of Police on November 28, 2020 . He retired from the post on November 27, 2023, after a career that spanned more than three decades .
Role During and After the Easter Attacks
The former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne played a significant role during the aftermath of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. As Acting IGP, he led efforts to identify and arrest those involved in the attacks that killed more than 250 people .
He also received instructions from the Attorney General to arrest former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and then-IGP Pujith Jayasundara over allegations of negligence related to the bombings . Wickramaratne’s tenure as IGP was marked by the challenges of maintaining security in a post-conflict and post-attack environment.
Investigations Underway
Police investigations into the incident are currently underway. The Malabe Police are conducting the probe . It is also being reported that this is the first time in Sri Lanka Police history that a former IGP has died by suicide by shooting himself .
Authorities have yet to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the tragic event, and further details are expected as the investigation progresses. The former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne was 63 years old at the time of his death .
