The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Friday obtained court approval to name 24 additional suspects in connection with the unrest at Negombo Prison, bringing the total number of suspects in the case to 62.
The order was issued by Negombo Chief Magistrate Shalani Perera when the case was taken up.
The 62 suspects comprise 38 individuals who had already been named and the 24 additional suspects identified on Friday.
For security reasons, the names of the suspects were not disclosed in open court. The CID submitted the list of names and the relevant B report directly to the magistrate.
An identification parade for the initial 38 suspects had been scheduled for Friday. However, the magistrate postponed it until Aug. 21 as prison officers who are expected to identify the suspects remain hospitalized after sustaining injuries during the incident.
The court also ordered that all suspects currently in custody be further remanded until Aug. 21 and directed prison authorities to produce all 62 suspects before court on that date.
The CID informed court that the suspects are expected to face charges including murder, offences under the Firearms Ordinance, the Public Property Act and relevant provisions of the Penal Code. (Newswire)