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Police say deceased protester was a drug addict

15 Jul 2022

  • Announced that post-mortem revealed death due to heart attack caused by blood clot
  • Inquiry to be based on post-mortem findings 
BY Buddhika Samaraweera The post-mortem examination of the 26-year-old protestor who died due to respiratory problems after being tear-gassed during the protests near the Prime Minister’s Office in Colombo 7 on Wednesday (13) has revealed that the youth had suffered a heart attack due to a blood clot, which led to his death, the Police Media Division said yesterday (14). In its press release regarding the findings of said post-mortem, the Police also stated that the youth was addicted to narcotics, including crystal methamphetamine and heroin.  The Police will initiate an investigation into the death based on the facts revealed through the deceased’s post-mortem examination. The body of the deceased is to be handed over to the family and relatives today (14). Speaking to The Morning earlier yesterday (14), Police Media Spokesman, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), and Attorney-at-Law (AAL) Nihal Thalduwa had said: “The post-mortem examination of this person is scheduled to be held today (14). I am not yet aware of what was revealed during it, but according to the facts revealed in the post-mortem examination, the Police would start an investigation into this death.” On Wednesday, massive protests were staged in front of the Prime Minister’s Office on Flower Road in Colombo 7 and near the Parliament, demanding the resignation of Presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe, and the Government. Police said that one person was killed and at least 85 others injured in the clashes between security forces and protestors during the said protests. The 26-year-old protestor who was admitted to a private hospital in Colombo after being tear-gassed outside the Prime Minister’s Office during the said protests died after developing breathing difficulties. He has been identified as Jaliya Dissanayake, a resident of the Mahawa area and a father of two children.  


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