CID called in to trace members of ‘suicide cult’

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been tasked with tracing those who attended the sermons of a preacher named Ruwan Prasanna Gunaratna, who promoted suicide before poisoning himself to death, recently. His wife and three children also died by swallowing poison a few days later.

Seven of Gunaratna’s adherents have committed suicide by swallowing poison suspected to be cyanide since his death. Another person who attempted suicide in Sripura on Thursday (04) is undergoing treatment.

The CID said Gunaratna had lived in Dehiattakandiya for six years.A person called Mohan Preethikumar, 53, described as an adherent of Gunaratne, killed himself after returning from Gunaratna’s funeral.

Dinithi Mandakini, a 21-year-old woman from Yakkala, too, committed suicide, after returning from the preacher’s funeral. The CID believes that Prasanna distributed poison among his followers.