A death row inmate convicted in the high‑profile rape and murder of schoolgirl Sivalloganathan Vidya in Jaffna has reportedly died by suicide while being held at the Jaffna Prison.
According to the Police, the inmate took his own life last night (24) while at the prison.
He was among the group of convicts sentenced to death in connection with the 2015 incident that sparked widespread public outrage.
In May this year, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the death sentences handed down by a three‑judge High Court bench to four accused, including Swiss Kumar.
The appeals filed by the convicts seeking acquittal were dismissed by a five‑judge bench headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, though the court ruled to remove the death sentences of two other accused.
The Police confirmed that further inquiries are underway into the circumstances of his death. (Newswire)