The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had not been instructed to investigate the death of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne as of Friday (17) afternoon, with the inquiry instead being conducted by the Crime Division of the Western Province South Range and the Malabe Police Station, The Sunday Morning learns.

A senior official attached to the CID, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the department had not received any instructions from the IGP to take over the investigation.

“The CID has not been instructed to investigate the incident,” the official claimed.

The official noted that Wickramaratne was one of the key witnesses in multiple ongoing investigations, including the investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks and was also the complainant in the high-profile ‘floating firearms’ case.

Asked why the CID had not been assigned to investigate the former IGP’s death, given his involvement in these cases, the official said that the department had not been informed of the reason.

According to the Police, investigations commenced after the Malabe Police Station received information that Wickramaratne had been admitted to the Colombo East Base Hospital in Mulleriyawa with gunshot injuries, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Police said the injuries had been sustained during an incident at his residence on Parakum Road in Thalangama, within the Malabe Police Division.

When contacted by The Sunday Morning, Police Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler said that two Police teams had already commenced investigations into the incident.

“The initial conclusion is that it is a suicide. However, we are awaiting the post-mortem report,” he told The Sunday Morning.

ASP Wootler added that the post-mortem examination would determine the next course of the investigation.

“If the post-mortem findings raise any suspicion or indicate the need for further investigations, the IGP will decide which department should handle the case,” he said.

He declined to speculate on whether the CID would subsequently be assigned to the investigation.

The remains of the former IGP have been placed at the Colombo East Base Hospital, Mulleriyawa, where the post-mortem examination is scheduled to be conducted.

Wickramaratne served as the 35th IGP from 27 November 2020 until 23 November 2023. He was 63 years old at the time of his death.