Sri Lanka treasury heist investigation takes a dark turn as a suspended Finance Ministry officer is found dead, raising urgent questions over pressure, accountability, and the missing $2.5 million.
Sri Lanka treasury heist probe has taken a dramatic and troubling turn after a suspended officer linked to the financial misappropriation case was found dead under suspicious circumstances, intensifying scrutiny over the ongoing investigation and the pressures surrounding it.
The deceased has been identified as Ranga Rajapaksa, an Assistant Director attached to the Department of External Resources of the Ministry of Finance, who had previously been suspended from service in connection with the alleged financial irregularity.
According to preliminary police reports, the death is suspected to be a suicide, with indications that the officer had cut veins in his hand and arm. His body was discovered at his private residence in the Kuliyapitiya area, prompting immediate investigations by the Kuliyapitiya Police following a complaint lodged by family members.
Ranga Nishantha Rajapaksa was among four officials suspended by the Ministry of Finance over the alleged misappropriation of funds. Authorities had earlier initiated disciplinary action as the investigation into the incident gathered momentum.
It has also been reported that the Criminal Investigation Department had summoned him on several occasions to record statements in relation to the financial misappropriation. However, he is said to have avoided those notices, adding another layer of complexity to the unfolding case.
Attention is now being drawn to whether the mounting pressure from legal proceedings and investigative scrutiny may have played a role in the circumstances surrounding his death. However, questions remain as investigators work to determine the exact sequence of events leading up to the incident.
The deceased was a distinguished old boy of Kuliyapitiya Central College and a graduate of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, marking him as a well-educated officer within the public service.
The broader case involves a misappropriated sum of $2.5 million, which exceeds Rs. 75 crore at current exchange rates. Authorities suspect that the funds were transferred to a foreign bank account, though full details have yet to be publicly confirmed.
A post mortem examination is scheduled, while police are continuing to search the residence for any letter or evidence that could shed light on the cause of death. This raises concerns about transparency and whether critical information linked to the investigation may emerge.
What happens next could be critical as both the criminal investigation and inquiries into the death continue. The intersection of financial misconduct and a sudden, suspicious death is likely to intensify public demand for answers and accountability in the days ahead.
