Kumari: Verdict of suicide

COLOMBO City Coroner Edward Ahangama, who held the post mortem into Thursday's death of Kumari Cooray, daughter of former MP Mervyn J. Cooray, returned a verdict of suicide due to burn injuries sustained as a result of setting herself on fire. The City Coroner based his conclusion on the Medical Report filed by Dr. Handun P. Wijewardena, AJMO, Colombo, who conducted the post mortem examination and on the evidence of other witnesses who belonged to SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem's security staff.

The body was identified by M. M. Vijith Kumar Dayapriya Cooray, 30, as that of his sister Manamarakkarage Marian Lanka Kumari Cooray of Royal Cottage, Pediris Place, Slave Island. She was 40 years and a mother of two. She was a divorcee, he said.

Pattani Mahendran ,50, a security guard at Carnival Ice Cream, Kollupitiya in evidence said Cooray came to the gate around 1.35 a.m. on October 6 and wanted him to open the gate for her to meet Hakeem but he refused to accede to her request.

"Thereafter she left and came back around 2.40 a.m. in a three wheeler and demanded that the gate be opened. When he refused she went back to the three wheeler and having collected a cellular phone and a white handbag came back and scaled the parapet wall and got on to the roof of the building.

"Then she poured petrol on herself from a bottle and lit a match and threatened to set herself ablaze if he was not called in. She then did so. We rushed down to fetch water. She fell near the lavatory as she ran with flames all over her.

Sergeant Upali poured water on her and doused the flames. With the assistance of police, we despatched her to hospital in an Ambulance," Mahendran said.

Three wheeler driver H.K. Sarath Siri Kumara , 50, and the MP's Security Guard Nihal Samaraweera - 33, also gave evidence.

Nalinda Indratissa, Attorney-at-Law, looked after Cooray's interests.

Cooray created a sensation nearly 18 months ago when she became the focus of drama bordering on political intrigue involving several key players chief of them Hakeem.