A sports teacher from Walasmulla, who was caught in a pyramid scheme operating on the internet, has died by suicide in the school sports room, police sources said.

The deceased was identified as 38-year-old Srinath Darshana, a father of two, who worked as a sports instructor at Kanumuldeniya Vidyalaya, Pallekanda North in Walasmulla.

The teacher has been missing since July 1, and the principal found his body inside the sports room while they were looking for him.

The Walasmulla Police removed the body after the principal informed them about the incident.

Police said a letter written by the teacher with a red pen was also found.

The teacher has invested a large amount of money in an illegal pyramid scheme for an attractive interest, and the police suspects that he may have died by suicide since he had not received the invested amount back.

The teacher had told a friend about a month ago that he had invested a large amount of money in a pyramid scheme and that he would have no option but to die by suicide if he did not receive any benefits.

The Walasmulla Police said that neither his wife nor his relatives knew that he had invested money in a pyramid scheme, and investigations are being carried out in this regard.

Police sources said that many people including police officers in the Hambantota area were caught in this illegal pyramid scheme.

Many people have lost the money they have invested and the police have received a number of complaints in this regard.

The Walasmulla Police are conducting investigations under the instructions of Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of Tangalle Division K.B. Keerthiratne.