Suspended Finance Ministry Official Found Dead Amid Treasury Cyber Theft Probe

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Acting Director of the Department of External Resources at the Ministry of Finance, Ranga Rajapaksha, who had been suspended from duty in connection with the cyber theft of US$2.5 million from the Treasury, has been found dead.

Police said the body was discovered behind his residence in Kuliyapitiya.

According to police, the death is believed to be a suicide, resulting from the severing of two major arteries.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Ranga Rajapaksha had gone to the rear of his residence at around 10.00 a.m., and his body was found at approximately 2.00 p.m.

Police investigations and a Magisterial inquiry were conducted this afternoon, after which the body was referred to the Judicial Medical Officer for further examination.

Police stated that the body had cut injuries at several locations.

In connection with the cyber theft of Treasury funds, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had recorded statements from Ranga Rajapaksha on three occasions.

One statement was recorded while he was in active service, while the other two were obtained after he was suspended from duty.

Following the submission of preliminary investigation reports to court, an overseas travel ban had also been imposed on Ranga Rajapaksha.

Ranga Rajapaksha was 50 years old and the father of two children.