CID probing whether cult-like leader had more followers

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has launched an islandwide investigation to ascertain whether there was a successor and other followers of the cult-type leader who took his life, followed by six more related deaths.

Police sources said a team has been sent to Polonnaruwa following reports that the man who had preached a distorted version of Buddhism had initially worked there. The CID is also probing whether there are similar groups operating with links to this cult-like group.

The first suicide was reported on December 28 when Ruwan Prasanna Gunaratne committed suicide at his Homagama residence. A few days prior to his death, he had conducted a session in Habaraduwa.

Following his funeral, on December 30, his wife had consumed poison, and three of their children too had either consumed or had been forced to take poison. They were all pronounced dead on admission.

A senior police officer said they believed they had consumed a substance similar to cyanide. A report from the Government Analyst Department is yet to be received.

Two more suicidal deaths—that of a young man and a young girl too—were reported thereafter. Both of them had attended Mr. Gunaratne’s sessions.

The 21-year-old girl from Yakkala had gained university entrance. The 34-year-old man from Ambalangoda was found dead at his boarding house in Maharagama. They were identified as Dinithi Mandakini and Morris Mohan Preethi Kumara.

A 26-year-old person from Siripura in Polonnaruwa who had attended his sermons had consumed poison and had been admitted to the Dehiattakandiya hospital. He, along with his wife and five others, had reportedly attended the funeral of Mr. Gunaratne.

Investigations had revealed that Mr. Gunaratne had rented out a house in the area and had conducted sermons.

According to police investigations, during his sessions in Habaraduwa, he had distributed a packet of poison to all those who had attended, claiming that they could be born in a better place after death if they took their lives.

He had conducted his sessions in Kurunegala, Gampola, Colombo, and several areas in the South.

Police said that they are investigating whether Mr. Gunaratne had any international links or overseas funding.

The police have appealed to the public for information about his followers.