Policeman at Lankan PM's residence commits suicide

Sri Lankan soldiers patrol outside the Presidential Secretariat after former president Mahinda Rajapakse was sworn in as prime minister in Colombo on October 27, 2018. - Sri Lankan President Sirisena on October 26 sacked his Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed former president Mahinda Rajapakse as the new premier, the president's office said. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP)

A 31-year-old senior police commando, deputed at the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's official residence, allegedly committed suicide here on Thursday morning, according to a media report.

The incident happened after Dilruksha Samarasinghe, who was with Special Task Force, shot himself dead with his service revolver while being on duty at a security checkpoint near the Temple Tree, the Colombo Page website reported.

"The officer died after being admitted to the Colombo National Hospital," the report said.

Officials said that the reason behind the suicide has not been ascertained, the paper reported.

Sri Lankan leaders and visiting dignitaries are given protection by the Special Task Force which is specially trained for security as well as urban guerrilla warfare.

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