Ruwan Prasanna Gunaratne
Convinced his followers to commit suicide to transition quickly to the 'next birth'
2010s - 2024
Ruwan Prasanna Gunaratne was a spiritual teacher who traveled to various temples and used social media to spread his teachings. Despite his passionate efforts and years of spreading his spiritual insights to thousands, Gunaratne's appears to have struggled to attract a large following and is believed to have been struggling financially. His path took an unexpected turn when he prophesized the destruction of India, urging his followers to uproot their lives. In pursuit of salvation, his family sold everything, relocating to a swanky apartment complex in Homagama, India, with dreams of eventually moving abroad.
Gunaratne eventually started telling his followers that India was being destroyed and that they must leave. With this belief, his family sold their property and moved into a luxury apartment complex in Homagama, India, with plans to move overseas.Â
However, his message took an even more radical turn when he started telling his followers that they must commit suicide in order to attain the next birth more quickly. Soon, he took his own life by drinking poison on December 28, 2023. But the saga didn't end there. A heart-wrenching twist followed three days later when his wife, in a harrowing echo of her husband's fate, took the lives of their three children and herself. Authorities began interviewing cult members in a search to find answers, but those members also committed suicide a few days later. The day after their deaths, two more members attempted suicide, but were unsuccessful, prompting urgent warnings from officials about the dangers of Gunaratne's ideology.
As this chilling narrative continues to unfold, a cloud of unanswered questions looms. The ripple effect of Gunaratne's teachings has been catastrophic and authorities are diligently working to prevent further tragedies, hoping to close this dark chapter without more loss of life.
Religion: Buddhism
Founder: Ruwan Prasanna Gunaratne
Founded: 2010s
Ended: 2024
Location: Sri Lanka
Gunaratne taught that Sri Lanka was being destroyed and that there was no point in living there anymore (source)
Three of the cult leader's children were murdered by their mother before she killed herself (source):
Promoted death by suicide without delay in order to expedite attaining the next birth (source)
The reasons behind the suicides are still unclear, but it is suspected that financial problems might have been a factor (source)
Victims:
Ruwan Prasanna Gunaratne, the 46-year-old leader of the cult, committed suicide after encouraging his followers to do the same. His body was discovered on December 28, 2023. (source, source)
Udari Nisansala Senaratne, the leader's 35-year old wife, committed suicide after murdering her three children (source, source, source)
Morris Preethi Kumara, a 34-year-old man from Ambalangoda, committed suicide on January 2, 2024, shortly after police interrogated him about the cult (source, source, source, source)
A 21-year-old woman and university student also committed suicide on on January 2, 2024, shortly after police interrogated her about the cult. She is believed to have been in a romantic relationship with Morris Preethi Kumara, who died the same day. (source, source, source, source)
Attempts: