Police probe whether teens’ deaths were suicide or accident

Police in Kompanna Veediya are still investigating the deaths of two 15-year-old students from the Colombo International School (CIS) to determine whether the incident was a result of suicide or a tragic accident.

"The police are investigating the incident. According to CCTV footage capturing their facial expressions and movements, it is still uncertain whether this was a suicide," Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said.

The investigation revealed that the two students fell from the 67th floor of an apartment building and were discovered on the 3rd floor on Tuesday evening.

Both students, classmates at CIS, arrived at the Altair apartments in Kompanna Veediya on Tuesday around 2:40 pm, in school uniforms, using a three-wheeler.

According to investigators, the boy and girl approached the security guards at the entrance of Altair, seeking to visit a friend on the 61st floor. Despite being informed that the apartment was vacant, the guards allowed them entry due to their frequent visits.

Subsequently, the students changed clothes on the 5th floor and used the gym. Later, CCTV footage showed the boy retrieving a delivered parcel by motorbike before returning to the 5th floor.

Around 4:30 pm, the students ascended to the 67th floor, where they accessed the emergency exit. CCTV footage indicated they sat on a low wall nearby, after which the incident occurred.

Sources said that one of the students had a friend living on the 61st floor, possibly providing an access card, though this detail is still under investigation.

Altair, a 70-floor building, restricts access beyond the 67th floor to outsiders. Investigators found the victims' shoes near the open staircase leading to the emergency exit, and their bodies were recovered from the 3rd floor, an area housing air-conditioning units.

Despite the investigation, there were no CCTV cameras beyond the open staircase, leaving uncertainties about the circumstances of their fall. Their bodies were discovered hours after they entered the building, with no witnesses to the event.

A specialized team has been assigned to investigate further into the incident.