Two Police teams have been appointed to investigate the death of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne, who was found dead early this morning, the Police said. 

Police Media Spokesman, ASP Wootler told Newswire that initial findings suggest the former IGP may have taken his own life using a firearm at his residence in Thalahena, Malabe. 

The former IGP was rushed to Mulleriyawa Hospital following the incident, but doctors pronounced him dead.

ASP Wootler said that former IGP C.D. Wickremaratne is assumed to have died in a suspected suicide. 

He further said that preparations are underway to conduct the postmortem and magisterial inquiries into the death, while statements are also to be recorded with regard to the incident. 

The Police Spokesman added that the appointed Police teams are to conduct a full inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death. (Newswire)

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The 11th National Accident Prevention Week concluded today (10) with a focus on preventing accidents in schools, preschools, and day care centers, underscoring the urgent need to safeguard children and young learners.

Health Authorities highlighted that sudden accidents remain the leading cause of hospitalizations in Sri Lanka, as well as a major driver of disabilities and deaths. 

According to the Non‑Communicable Disease Unit of the Ministry of Health, each year, millions fall victim to accidents, with over one million requiring inpatient treatment. Estimates suggest nearly three million people seek medical care annually due to accidents, meaning one in every seven citizens faces such risks. On average, 6–8 Sri Lankans suffer accident‑related injuries requiring treatment every minute.

Statistics reveal that the majority of victims are within the productive age group of 15-44 years, where accidents are also the leading cause of death. Annually, 2,500–3,000 patients die after being admitted for accident treatment, while overall, 8% of Sri Lanka’s 150,000 annual deaths, about 8,000 -10,000 lives, are lost to sudden accidents. Alarmingly, more than 7,000 accident deaths occur before victims even reach hospital care.

According to the National Accident Surveillance System, falls account for 25-27% of hospital admissions, road traffic accidents for 15%, and injuries from falling objects, animal bites, assaults, and cuts for another significant share. Among outpatients, 70% are treated for animal bites. Road accidents claim about 2,500 lives annually, while suicides account for more than 3,000 deaths. Other causes include drownings, poisonings, snake bites, electrocutions, violent acts, and murders. Over half of accidents occur in homes, with about a quarter on roads.

Health officials have warned that tens of thousands live with lifelong disabilities caused by accidents, which not only devastate victims but also impose long‑term burdens on families, society, and the economy. A considerable portion of the national health budget is spent on accident treatment, making prevention critical for sustainable development.

The Ministry of Health emphasized that most accidents can be prevented through awareness, adherence to safety measures, and responsible behavior. 

The week‑long program, held from July 6-10, engaged multiple ministries and institutions to raise public awareness, inspect high‑risk areas, and plan short‑, medium‑, and long‑term measures. Authorities stressed that prevention efforts must continue beyond the designated week in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders. (Newswire)

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A death row inmate convicted in the high‑profile rape and murder of schoolgirl Sivalloganathan Vidya in Jaffna has reportedly died by suicide while being held at the Jaffna Prison.

According to the Police, the inmate took his own life last night (24) while at the prison.

He was among the group of convicts sentenced to death in connection with the 2015 incident that sparked widespread public outrage.

In May this year, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the death sentences handed down by a three‑judge High Court bench to four accused, including Swiss Kumar. 

The appeals filed by the convicts seeking acquittal were dismissed by a five‑judge bench headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, though the court ruled to remove the death sentences of two other accused.

The Police confirmed that further inquiries are underway into the circumstances of his death. (Newswire)

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According to Ada Derana, quoting Police sources, the death is suspected to be a suicide, although there has been no official confirmation yet.

He had been under investigation following the high-profile incident involving the diversion of state funds, believed to have been carried out by hackers through compromised communication channels.

The deceased had been suspended from duty pending the outcome of ongoing investigations into the incident.

Police said further inquiries are underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the death. (Newswire)

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A 52-year-old officer attached to the Special Task Force (STF) camp in Katukurunda has died by suicide after reportedly shooting himself with his service firearm while on duty, Mawbima newspaper reported.

Police suspect a personal reason may have led to the officer taking his own life.

Kalutara South Police have launched further investigations into the incident.

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Police say an individual who had been wrongfully assaulted after being assumed to be a thief in Ramboda has died by suicide. 

Media reports suggest that the death was linked to a video published on social media.

According to the Police, the 34-year-old had fallen asleep on a Colombo to Welimada bus while travelling to his residence at the Rothschild Estate in Pussellawa and had mistakenly gotten off in Ramboda. 

The Police said that, as he had knocked on the door of a resident to seek help, they had mistaken him for a robber.

Other area residents had gathered and assaulted the man, tied him to a tree, and later handed him over to the Kotmale Police.

Police inquiries had found that the man was innocent, and he had been handed over to his relatives in Rothschild Estate.

However, the Police confirmed that the man had died by suicide on Sunday (07 Sept), a few days after the incident.

The Police said it is unclear whether the death was related to the incident and that investigations are underway. 

Media reports claimed that the man had taken his life after the humiliation caused by a video of him being assaulted was published on social media. (Newswire)

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A 94-year-old man who had tried to take his own life by jumping from the Matara Mahanama Bridge last afternoon has been rescued by Army personnel.  

Troops from the 3rd Gemunu Watch Regiment acted swiftly and successfully rescued the individual, admitting him to the Matara General Hospital.

Further investigations into the incident are being conducted by the Matara Police. (Newswire)

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An inmate of the Boossa Prison has been reported dead after attempting suicide this afternoon, it was reported. 

According to reports, the inmate was placed in a cell holding special category criminals.

He had attempted suicide, after which prison officers had rescued and hospitalised him.

It is reported that he had died after being admitted to the Karapitiya Hospital. (Newswire)

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At least 22 people have been killed and 63 injured in a suicide bombing at a church in Syria’s capital of Damascus, according to state media.

Worshippers had gathered for a packed Sunday service at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighbourhood when the attack took place.

The suicide bomber entered and opened fire, before detonating his explosive vest, Syria’s interior ministry said in a statement.

It said the suicide bomber was a member of Islamic State (IS).

A security source told Reuters two men were involved in the attack, including the man who blew himself up.

It is the first suicide bombing in Damascus since Bashar al-Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebel insurgency in December.

People tried to stop suicide bomber

The blast sparked panic and fear in the church, which had been full of worshippers, including children and the elderly, eyewitnesses said.

The building was strewn with wood from fittings and pews after the attack, with fallen icons and pools of blood on the floor.

Families are still searching for missing loved ones, with some local media reporting children were among the dead.

Lawrence Maamari was inside the church when the attack happened.

He told AFP a man had entered and begun shooting, with people trying “to stop him before he blew himself up”.

Ziad Helou, who was at a shop nearby, said he heard gunfire then an explosion, and saw glass flying.

“We saw fire in the church and the remains of wooden benches thrown all the way to the entrance,” he said.

‘Ensure the protection of all citizens’

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was the first suicide attack inside a church in Syria since war erupted in 2011.

IS has been behind several attempted attacks on churches in Syria since Mr Assad’s fall.

But a security source told Reuters this was the first to succeed.

The Orthodox patriarchate in Damascus urged authorities to “bear full responsibility for what … is happening concerning the violation of the sanctity of churches, and to ensure the protection of all citizens”.

The United Nations special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, expressed “outrage at this heinous crime”, calling for a full investigation.

Syria’s foreign ministry described the attack as “a desperate attempt to undermine national coexistence and to destabilise the country”.

Interior minister says investigations underway

Since the new authorities took power, the international community has urged the government to protect minorities and ensure their participation in Syria’s transition, particularly after sectarian violence in recent months.

Syria’s interior minister, Anas Khattab, said specialised teams had begun investigating.

“These terrorist acts will not stop the efforts of the Syrian state in achieving civil peace,” he said in a statement.

Earlier this month, Mr Khattab said IS had attempted attacks against Christian and Shiite communities that authorities had thwarted.

Syria’s Christian community has shrunk from about 1 million before the war to under 300,000 due to displacement and emigration. (ABC)

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A 13-year-old school student is reported to have died by suicide in the Ambalangoda area today. 

The Police said the child, a grade 07 student, was found dead at his residence this morning. 

According to the Police, the parents of the child have claimed emotional distress to be the cause of his death. 

The Ambalangoda Police is conducting investigations into the incident. 

Several student deaths by suicide have been reported in Sri Lanka in the past few weeks, prompting investigations by the authorities. 

Among school students, a 16-year-old girl had died by suicide in Kotahena in April. At the time, her parents alleged that her death was linked to her being sexually abused by a male teacher at her former school in Bambalapitiya and also being humiliated at a private tuition institute in front of fellow students over the incident.

Among university students, the first incident was reported from the Sabaragamuwa University, where a second-year male student had died by suicide at his house, due to alleged ragging.

A recent incident to be reported was from the Wayamba National College of Education, where a second-year female student had died by suicide at the college dormitory. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Police has launched a probe into the death of a student at the Wayamba National College of Education in Bingiriya recently.

The Police said the second-year female student had died by suicide inside her dormitory at the college on Friday evening (23 May). 

They further said that statements have been recorded from several persons, including lecturers and students, regarding the death.

The Police added that after presenting facts to the relevant court on Saturday, a magisterial inquiry was to be conducted. 

Meanwhile, it is reported that a group of students from the college had held a silent protest against the college authorities, stating that the teachers of the college should be held responsible for the student’s death.

They alleged that the mental distress caused by harassment from some of the lecturers at the college made it impossible for the student to cope, leading to the decision to end her life. 

The deceased student is a 24-year-old resident of Teldeniya, Kandy. (Newswire)

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A protest has been held in front of a prominent girls’ school in Bambalapitiya, seeking justice for a former student who died by suicide in Kotahena recently. 

The protesters are calling for the immediate suspension and arrest of a male teacher at the school, who is accused of having sexually abused the schoolgirl, leading to her death.

The protesters have also shown their displeasure over the school principal, whom they have accused of having shielded and protected the perpetrator.

As the protesters were blocking the Duplication Road in Bambalapitiya, Colombo, in front of the school, the Police had deployed Riot control Police officers to the location.

The 16-year-old girl had died by suicide in Kotahena recently, bringing the incident to the spotlight. 

Speaking to the media soon after her death, the parents claimed that her death was linked to her being sexually abused by a male teacher at her former school in Bambalapitiya.

They further said that, prior to her demise, the girl had also been humiliated at a private tuition institute in front of fellow students.

Following a complaint filed at the Bambalapitiya Police, the accused teacher was arrested but later released on bail. 

Addressing the matter, the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs said the National Child Protection Authority, under its purview, has launched a probe into the matter. (Newswire)

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A Police Constable attached to the Padiyathalawa Police Station in Ampara is reported to have died by suicide using his official firearm.

The Police said the Police Constable was found dead inside the security guardpost at the Police Station at around 5.15 am today.

The deceased has been identified as a 59-year-old resident of Bibile. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Higher Education says stringent action will be taken against those found to be involved in the sudden death of a Sabaragamuwa University student, if it is proven to be due to ragging.

Issuing a statement, the ministry said an investigation team has been appointed to inquire into the student’s death.

The ministry further said that after receiving the investigation report, necessary action will be taken together by the University Administration and the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The Ministry of Higher Education said it has focused attention on allegations of ragging being circulated in the media, and that if proven, stringent action will be taken against those responsible. 

The statement has been issued following the sudden death of a second-year student of the Faculty of Technical Engineering of the University of Sabaragamuwa. 

The student is reported to have died by suicide at his residence in Gampola on 29 April after having returned home from the university’s April New Year Festival celebrations. 

His relatives and friends have alleged that the unbearable humiliation he faced during the university’s New Year celebrations had led to his death. (Newswire)

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The Maradana Police have reported that a 32-year-old woman in their custody died by suicide in the early hours of today (Jan 22).

The woman from Vavuniya, who was taken into custody yesterday (Jan 21), is said to have taken her life around 4:00 am while being held in the police detention cell.

Authorities have initiated investigations into the incident, and further details are expected to be released as inquiries progress. (Newswire)

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A grade 08 student of an international school was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital on Wednesday (Jan 15) after reportedly falling from the 05th floor of a building at the school.

According to the state newspaper Dinamina, the female student, a resident of Wattala, had not sustained any critical injuries as she had fallen on to the fibre roofing attached to a floor below.

The Wattala Police, conducting investigations into the incident, said the student has also not shown any visible injuries following the fall.

Stating that there was information that this student may have jumped from the fifth floor, the Watta Police said investigations are underway. (Newswire)

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A 20-year-old woman has died by suicide after jumping in front of a train in the Nawadankulama area in Mundalama, following a dispute with her boyfriend.

Police investigations reveal that the girl, who was employed at a private apparel factory in Marawila, was involved in a romantic relationship with a fellow employee.

Stating that the family was aware of the relationship, the victim’s mother said, however, the couple was constantly engaging in arguments over the phone.

Providing a statement to the Police, the victim’s mother said following a similar phone call the girl had stepped outside claiming she was going to wash her face, but had instead sat down on the Railway track in front of an oncoming train.

The woman who had sustained serious injuries in the incident had died on the spot, while the body has been placed at the Puttalam Base Hospital. (Newswire)

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A male student has been reported dead after falling from the upper floor of the C.W.W. Kannangara Hostel at Kelaniya University.

According to the Police, the incident had occurred early this morning (Oct 23). 

The student had reportedly died after being admitted to the Kiribathgoda Hospital. 

The deceased has been identified as a fourth-year student of Kelaniya University. 

The Kelaniya Police is conducting investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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Investigations have confirmed that the Private Secretary of former Minister Lohan Ratwatte had died by suicide, the Police said. 

Addressing the media, Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said that the 50-year-old man was found with gunshot injuries at a building close to Ratwatte’s Office in the Mahaiyawa area.

Stating that he had served as Ratwatte’s Private Secretary at that particular office, DIG Thalduwa said that the man had shot himself with the official weapon that had been issued to him.

“The weapon had been issued to him with a licence. It has been found that he had renewed the licence in January this year. He had shot himself at the office premises and had died upon admission to the hospital last afternoon,” he said. 

The Police Spokesman revealed that the deceased is a 50-year-old resident of Werellagama and that the Katugastota Police are conducting investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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Police investigations reveal that the deaths of three persons, including an infant, reported in the Katukurunda area in Kalutara on Saturday, were due to suicide. 

The Police said it is suspected that the 21-year-old youth had attempted to jump in front of the train along with his child, while the third individual had died while attempting to prevent them.

The deceased persons have been identified as a 21-year-old youth, his one-year-old infant, and a 49-year-old man. 

Investigations reveal that the youth had informed his family that he was going to die by suicide along with his child, after which his neighbour, who had been informed, had followed him to the train station.

It is reported that the man had attempted to remove the father and child from the train platform, during which they had all been hit by the train and had fallen onto the railway track. 

The two adults had died at the scene, while the child had died at the Nagoda Hospital in Kalutara.

Police investigations have further found that the youth was addicted to drugs, while his wife was suffering from mental illness. 

Statements from family members have also confirmed that the youth and his child had died by suicide. (Newswire)

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