A 45-year-old man from Kandy was found dead in a luxury hotel in Colombo linked to a casino, authorities confirmed Thursday.
Police said the man had checked in several days earlier. Hotel staff alerted police after noticing his room remained locked, and officers forced entry to discover him hanging.
At an inquest, investigators said a note recovered from the scene suggested he had been distressed after losing a significant sum of money at the casino. His death is being treated as an apparent suicide, though further inquiries are underway.
Local media reported that his identity has not been publicly disclosed beyond his age and hometown. The amount of money allegedly lost at the casino has also not been confirmed.
Sri Lanka’s Sumithrayo, a non-profit organization, operates a helpline for those experiencing suicidal thoughts. People struggling after gambling losses or for any other reason can call 1333 for confidential support, specialists said.
Sri Lanka has imposed a special levy to discourage locals from entering casinos. (Newswire)
