Death of Suspended Treasury Official Under Investigation by Police and Forensic Experts

COLOMBO (News 1st) - A panel of medical specialists has conducted an inspection at the scene where Ranga Rajapaksha, the Acting Director of the Department of External Resources at the Ministry of Finance, was found dead in Kuliyapitiya yesterday.

Rajapaksha had been suspended in connection with an alleged cyber theft involving USD 2.5 million from the Treasury.

Police said the Government Analyst also visited and examined the scene. 

A post-mortem examination is to be carried out by a medical board appointed for the investigation. 

Health Ministry Secretary Specialist Dr. Anil Jasinghe said that the board comprises four senior forensic experts. 

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasooriya said two special police teams, each led by a Chief Inspector, have been deployed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.

Police report that Rajapaksha’s body was discovered behind his residence in Kuliyapitiya yesterday. 

Preliminary investigations revealed that Ranga Rajapaksha had gone to the rear of his residence at around 10.00 a.m., and his body was found at approximately 2.00 p.m.

Police stated that the body had cut injuries at several locations.

The Criminal Investigation Department had earlier recorded statements from Rajapaksa on three separate occasions in connection with the Treasury cyber theft probe, including while he was in service and after his suspension. 

Following the submission of preliminary investigation reports to court, an overseas travel ban had also been imposed on Ranga Rajapaksha. 

Rajapaksha, aged 50, is a father of two.

The post-mortem examination is scheduled to be held today at the Kuliyapitiya Hospital.