Four inmates have been named as suspects in connection with the Negombo Prison clashes that left 32 people dead earlier this month.
They were produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday (27) and ordered to be remanded until August 7 by Chief Magistrate Shilani Perera.
The clashes on July 5 and 6 between two groups of inmates resulted in the deaths of 10 prison officers and 22 inmates, while more than 100 others were injured.
According to the state newspaper Dinamina, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) identified the suspects as Supun Madhusankha alias Heenatiyana Supun, Ashan Fernando alias Kalu Malli, Sameera Sampath alias Baba, and Shane Dilan Silva.
CID officials told court that the suspects were identified by fellow inmates and requested that they be presented for an identification parade.
They also revealed that on the day of the incident, Special Task Force officers carried 301 firearms, while prison officers had 70. Statements have been recorded from 1,395 individuals, including prison staff, inmates, STF officers, police, and civilians.
During proceedings, President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne, appearing on behalf of the Citizens’ Organization of the People’s Struggle and the family of deceased inmate Mohamed Nizam, argued that most inmate deaths were caused by gunfire and called for accountability from those who ordered the shooting. He highlighted the plight of Nizam’s family, including seven children, one of them just two months old.
CID officers responded that all seized firearms and ammunition had been sent to the Government Analyst on July 14, and that over a thousand statements had been taken as part of a thorough investigation. So far, 28 witnesses have testified before court.
The Magistrate ordered the Negombo Prison Superintendent to appear today (28) to present details on medical examinations of inmates. The four suspects were also directed to be presented for an identification parade before being remanded until August 7. (Newswire)