Former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne found dead at Thalahena home

Former Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickramaratne has died after sustaining a gunshot wound at his residence in Thalahena, with police suspecting that he shot himself.

The incident occurred at his home on Parakrama Road in the Thalahena area of the Malabe Police Division this morning (July 17, 2026).

Wickramaratne was taken to Colombo East Base Hospital in Mulleriyawa following the shooting. Hospital sources said he had already died by the time he was brought to the hospital.

Malabe Police launched investigations after receiving information that the former Police Chief had died after being admitted to the hospital with gunshot injuries.

His body has been placed at Colombo East Base Hospital in Mulleriyawa for a post-mortem examination.

The Western Province (South) Crimes Division and Malabe Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.

Chandana Deepal Wickramaratne, commonly known as C.D. Wickramaratne, was born on March 26, 1963, and was 63 years old at the time of his death.

He served in the Sri Lanka Police for more than 30 years and was the country’s 35th Inspector General of Police.

Before his appointment as Police Chief, Wickramaratne served as the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Southern Province.

On April 29, 2019, he was appointed Acting Inspector General of Police after then-Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara was sent on compulsory leave earlier that day following the Easter Sunday bomb attacks on April 21, 2019.

Wickramaratne was officially confirmed as Inspector General of Police on November 27, 2020, and served in the post until his retirement on November 23, 2023.

— Last Updated: July 17, 2026, at 06:50 PM —