The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has assumed control of the investigations into seven deaths occurring under suspicious circumstances within the past few days, as revealed by Police Media Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa.

The bodies of a young female and a male, both suspected victims of poisoning, have been discovered by law enforcement. Notably, both individuals were followers of a religious preacher, identified as "Ruwan Prasanna Gunaratne," who reportedly committed suicide in the Homagama area recently.

Authorities disclosed that the lifeless body of a 21-year-old woman was found at her residence in the Yakkala area, while the body of a 34-year-old man, hailing from Ambalangoda, was discovered in a Maharagama guest house where he had been staying temporarily.

Gunaratne, known for his religious preaching activities across the island, was found dead from poisoning, leading investigators to believe he had taken his own life. Tragically, a few days later on December 31, his 35-year-old wife reportedly committed suicide by ingesting poison after administering the same substance to her two sons and daughter at their home in Kahantota, Malabe. The ages of the woman's children were 09, 08, and 07, respectively.

Both the 21-year-old woman and the 34-year-old man had attended the funeral of the religious preacher, adding another layer of complexity to the investigation.

Police suspect that all seven deaths may be linked to the ingestion of the same type of poison.