String of Poison Deaths Sparks CID Investigation: Suspicious Links Emerge

COLOMBO (News 1st);  The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched a full-scale investigation following the death of seven individuals by poisoning across four locations in Sri Lanka. 

Police Spokesperson & Attorney-at-Law SSP Nihal Talduwa confirmed the ongoing probe and highlighted several concerning connections between the deceased.

The tragic chain of events began on December 28th in Makumbura, Kottawa, when a 46-year-old man named Ruwan Prasanna Gunaratne, reportedly known for preaching "a certain ideology," was found dead after consuming poison. 

On the day of his funeral, his wife and three children tragically followed suit, succumbing to the same poison.

Adding to the growing mystery, a 21-year-old woman in Yakkala met a similar fate on Tuesday (2) afternoon, authorities confirmed. 

The type of poison used, identified by the envelope it was contained in, mirrored that found in the Kottawa cases. 

Further raising suspicions, a young man in Maharagama also died by poison on Tuesday (2), and the envelope again matched the pattern.

Disturbingly, police investigations revealed that the two women from Yakkala and Maharagama were both present at the funeral of the first victim in Makumbura. Additionally, information suggests that the deceased individuals may be connected in some way.

"There appears to be a clear link between these four deaths," stated SSP Talduwa. 

He urged the public to be vigilant and cautious if any family members have heard teachings related to the aforementioned "ideology."