15-year-old detainee death : Family seeks justice

December 4, 2023 at 1:36 PM

The Matron of a Children’s Detention Centre in Kalmunai, who was arrested over the death of a 15-year-old boy, has been remanded. 

The woman had been arrested after surrendering to the Kalmunai Police yesterday claiming that she had assaulted the boy. 

Upon being produced in court today, the Matron has been remanded until December 15, 2023. 

The Sri Lanka Police is also conducting investigations to ascertain the involvement of further individuals in the death of the 15-year-old boy.

Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa told the media that any others found to be involved in the death will be apprehended.

Relatives of the boy also staged a protest in front of the Kalmunai Police Station over the death of the boy, while the coffin containing his body had also been placed in front of the Police Station during the protest.

The teenager, a resident of Kokuvil in Batticaloa, was arrested on suspicion and placed at the Children’s Detention Centre in Kalmunai for having robbed a temple. 

The child is reported to have dropped out of school after grade 09 due to economic difficulties.

He was apprehended by the Kokuvil Police on November 16 and was placed at the Children’s Detention Centre in Kalmunai the following day after being produced in court.

Based on information received by the Police, the body of the boy was found on November 30, after which the postmortem examination had been conducted at the Ampara Hospital.

The Postmortem report confirmed that the child had died due to injuries sustained to the chest area as a result of being assaulted. 

The Matron of a Children’s Detention Centre in Kalmunai surrendered to the Kalmunai Police claiming that she had assaulted the child. (NewsWire)