Sri Lanka Police have warned relatives of individuals who had attended religious preachings by Ruwan Prasanna Gunaratne to be vigilant of self-harm.
The warning comes after seven incidents of suicides had been reported across Sri Lanka related to the said religious preachings.
Investigations have revealed that 47-year-old Ruwan Prasanna Gunaratne had conducted preachings while promoting suicide for the next birth soon.
Gunaratne, who had conducted such preachings in several parts of Sri Lanka, recently died by suicide at his residence in Homaga on December 28, 2023. He was found to have consumed some form of chemicals similar to cyanide.
His wife and three children had also died by suicide, similarly, following the funeral of Gunaratne on December 30, 2023.
Police investigations led to the interrogation of a 34-year-old man from Ambalangoda, who had attended the funeral of Gunaratne.
Interrogations had then revealed Gunaratne’s preachings of death by suicide.
Following the interrogations, the Police found the 34-year-old man from Ambalangoda dead inside a lodge in Maharagama, also in a similar manner to the death of Gunaratne.
Meanwhile, a 21-year-old woman who had attended the funeral of Gunaratne’s family has also been found dead, in a similar manner to the preacher and his family.
The girl, who had received admission to the Ruhuna University, was found dead at her residence in Yakkala, while investigations have revealed that she too had followed the preachings of Gunaratne.
The Police yesterday (Jan 03) interrogated several individuals who had attended the preachings of Gunaratne, while inquiries are underway to ascertain if the man had distributed chemicals similar to cyanide to his followers.
The public has been requested not to fall victim to such religious preachings and for relatives of those who attended the preachings to remain vigilant on any possible self-harm based on the preachings. (NewsWire)
