The death of an IGP

 By Kassapa

The sudden death of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana Wickramaratne last week came as a shock to everyone. The circumstances of his demise added mystery to his passing leading to much speculation, especially in the context of two similar deaths within a few months. As some section of the media sought to sensationalise the incident, a review of the facts is appropriate.

Wickramaratne, the country’s 35th IGP retired in November 2023. He had been out of the limelight since then, away from the public eye and keeping a low profile. His career in the Police force, while some may claim is not unblemished, was certainly not as chequered as his predecessor, Pujith Jayasundara or his successor, Deshabandu Tennakoon.

Wickramaratne was elevated to the office of IGP suddenly, within a few days of the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks. Then President Maithripala Sirisena requested Jayasundara to resign. He didn’t. Sirisena intervened to send him on compulsory leave and appoint Wickramaratne as Acting IGP. It was expected that Wickramaratne would have succeeded Jayasundara anyway.

Wickramaratne was confirmed in this role more than a year later by a different President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa. When Rajapaksa himself was forced to resign and flee the country and Ranil Wickremesinghe took over, he retained Wickramaratne’s services.

Wickramaratne was Police chief during very turbulent times in the country. He had to co-ordinate Police services during the global Covid-19 pandemic. This was followed by the mid-2022 uprising against the Rajapaksa led regime, popularly known as the ‘aragalaya’.

It was under Wickramaratne’s watch that the May 09 riots occurred during the ‘aragalaya’. Amarakeerthi Athukorala, a parliamentarian from the Polonnaruwa district, was killed. Houses of politicians of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) were set on fire. Asked about why the Police did not act to contain the unrest at a local level, Wickramaratne famously replied, “I was compelled to appoint those nominated by the ruling party as Officers in Charge of Police stations”.

Within the Police force, Wickramaratne was a respected officer. Having a degree in Physical science, he specialised in intelligence work. Unlike both Jayasundara before him and Tennakoon after him, he wasn’t eager to please politicians so he could get the top job in the khaki uniform.

Also unlike Jayasundara and Tennakoon, Wickramaratne had little to answer for, while in retirement. Jayasundara was found guilty of negligence in the Easter Sunday terror attacks and had to pay millions in compensation. Tennakoon was found unsuitable to hold office and stripped of his position by a special motion being passed in Parliament. Comparatively, Wickramaratne had much less to fear.

It is known that the former IGP recently provided a statement to investigators regarding the ongoing inquiry into the Easter Sunday terror attacks, which is gathering momentum now. In that statement, he is said to have detailed discussions relating to the disappearance of Sara Jasmine, a key witness. Upon Wickramaratne’s death, there were not so subtle attempts to link his demise to this.

That would be very unfair to an officer who had a 37-year long career in the Police, even if the exact circumstances of his death are puzzling, to say the least. He is reported to have engaged in his morning exercises and then requested to see the personal weapon of his security officer. As the officer went away to fetch a drink of water, a gunshot was heard and Wickramaratne was found fatally injured, being pronounced deceased on admission to hospital.

Some media outlets were quick to imply this was a suicide. That too wouldn’t do justice to Wickramaratne. However, there are questions that do need answers. Will a person planning to commit suicide engage in his regular exercises? There have been suggestions that Wickramaratne could have been under severe stress due to the Easter terror attack investigation as well as family issues. Would a person who has been in the Police force for 37 years and managed crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2022 uprising without flinching, a person who was professionally mature enough to be retained by three Presidents of different political ideologies, wilt under these circumstances?

Then, there is the ‘pattern’ of deaths which ‘appear’ to be suicide. First, it was Ranga Rajapaksa, a Treasury official who had been stood down pending investigations into the US$ 2.5 million Treasury payment scam. Then, it was former Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lankan Airlines, Kapila Chandrasena. There are some common threads. They were all key witnesses in ongoing investigations. They were all found dead in their homes in the most unexpected manner, which made murder highly unlikely.

In Wickramaratne’s case however, unlike in the other two deaths, there is the possibility of an accidental discharge from the firearm leading to his death. By his own admission, he hadn’t handled a firearm recently. The post-mortem examination has returned an open verdict. A special Police investigation team is conducting inquiries. There is certainly no need to rush into conclusions.

Nevertheless, Wickramaratne being who he was, politicians will offer their conspiracy theories. Some media houses are already claiming he was ‘silenced’ as he was an important witness. Others make various claims which accuse him of corruption. None of these are substantiated but they gain traction in the unregulated world of social media where sensationalism is the order of the day. Very few appreciate Wickramaratne for the service he gave his country.

If anything, Wickramaratne’s death and the two deaths before him, highlight the need to protect witnesses as they become an integral part of ongoing investigations or court proceedings. It is harsh for the limelight to shine continuously on a person in a world which as been made unforgiving due to the constant harassment dished out on social media liberally, without fear of any consequences.

It is hoped that Police investigators will piece together the puzzle of C. D. Wickramaratne’s death speedily and accurately. Being a former Police chief, that is what he would have wished for. That is the best the Police force can do for someone who was an officer and a gentleman.