Janaka Liyanarachi –
Avissawella Judicial Medical Officer who conducted the autopsy has concluded that Air Force rugby player Pathirage Rajapakse Dimantha Lakmal, who was suspected to be involved in the double murder in the Moragahahena area of Horana, died due to two gunshot wounds to the abdomen and chest.
He was also shot in the thigh area below the hip bone.
Judicial Medical sources said that whether or not the deceased was using drugs can only be concluded by testing a urine sample of the deceased or sending a blood sample to the coroner for a report.
sources further said that although it may take several weeks for the report of a blood sample to be sent to the government analyst, however, as far as is known, no such investigation has been conducted.
In an inquiry regarding the slain rugby player, Air Force sources said that in the history of 15 years of Air Force service, not a single act of indiscipline has been reported by him.
Since he is a gold medal-winning national-level rugby player, he will be subject to tests to confirm the use of prohibited drugs conducted at the national level in every tournament he participates in. Air Force sources said that he has never been charged with drug use.
Also, the same sources point out that since Lakmal is a professional rugby player, he was not trained to be skilled in the use of firearms and that the killing was an attack by an experienced firearms user.
However, the Air Force officially stated that the Sri Lanka Air Force takes seriously any involvement of officers involved in criminal activity and is working closely with law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident.
Apart from this, a special internal investigation has also been started in connection with the Ministry of Defense on the order of the Air Force Commander regarding the incident.
