Dr. Prabath Daya Ratna found dead in Mahiyanganaya reserve

The body of Dr. Prabath Daya Ratna, a 49-year-old consultant anaesthesiologist at Badulla Teaching Hospital, was discovered on a rock slab in the Loggallaoya reserve near Mahiyanganaya. The discovery followed his disappearance on the morning of the 23rd after he had been on duty at the hospital.

Authorities located Dr. Ratna’s abandoned vehicle near the 17th milepost on the Badulla-Mahiyanganaya main road after CCTV footage showed him driving toward the area. A joint search operation involving the police, army, and wildlife officers was conducted in the elephant-prone forest to locate him.

Police suspect the death may be a suicide due to an overdose of medication, as several medicinal pills were found near the body. Family members stated that the doctor had been experiencing mental distress and receiving treatment for depression. An on-site inspection was conducted by the Mahiyanganaya Acting Magistrate, and a post-mortem examination has been ordered to confirm the cause of death.