July 30, Colombo (LNW): The personal security officer assigned to the late Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne has told a magistrate’s court that the former Police Chief requested his service pistol and ammunition shortly before the fatal shooting, saying he wished to inspect the weapon.
Giving evidence at the magisterial inquiry before Kaduwela Magistrate Aruna Indrajith Buddhadasa on Tuesday, Police Sergeant Susantha, attached as Mr Wickramaratne’s security officer, said the request was entirely out of the ordinary during the many years he had served the former IGP.
The inquiry, led by the Western Province (South) Investigation Unit, heard that the sergeant had been assigned to Mr Wickramaratne for more than 16 years and that, throughout that period, the former Police Chief had never previously asked to examine his official firearm.
According to the witness, Wickramaratne first requested the service pistol and then asked for its ammunition. He also recalled noticing other unusual details on the day of the incident, stating that the former IGP had left for what appeared to be his usual exercise routine without wearing shoes.
The witness further noted that Wickramaratne had never before asked him to bring a bottle of water before going out to exercise, but did so after taking possession of the firearm.
Sergeant Susantha testified that moments after leaving to fetch the water, he heard gunshots. He immediately rushed back and found Wickramaratne lying on the floor with a gunshot injury. With the assistance of others at the residence, he transported the former IGP to Mulleriyawa Base Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Following the testimony, the Magistrate directed investigators to forward the firearm involved in the incident, together with the spent cartridge cases, to the Government Analyst for forensic examination and a detailed report.
The court also heard that the Judicial Medical Officer attached to Mulleriyawa Base Hospital had previously returned an open verdict in relation to the death, with the inquiry continuing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.