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)

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The Borella Police yesterday (27) arrested a prison jailer and a guard in connection with the death of a remand prisoner at the Colombo Magazine Prison.

According to the Police, the arrests were made after an altercation inside the prison involving two inmates and a guard, which left three individuals injured.

All were admitted to the prison hospital, where one of the inmates, a 37‑year‑old resident of Nawagampura, Colombo 14, succumbed to his injuries.

The Police said that the deceased had been in remand custody over possession of narcotics.

On the orders of the Inspector General of Police, further investigations are being carried out under the supervision of Colombo Division DIG Nishantha Soysa, with the Borella Police, Colombo Division Criminal Investigation Division, and Colombo South Division Criminal Investigation Unit assisting in the probe. (Newswire)

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The Department of Prisons states that inmates from ten prisons across Sri Lanka have donated one of their meals to provide relief to people affected by Cyclone Ditwah.

Inmates of the New Magazine Prison, Welikada Prison, Bogambara Prison, Matara Prison, Mahara Prison, Kuruwita Prison, Jaffna Prison, Monaragala Prison, Agunukolapelessa Prison, and Batticaloa Prison have contributed their meals for the benefit of the disaster‑affected communities.

According to a Justice Ministry statement, the following are the details of the donation, including the value of donated food items, the prison, and the place of donation.

1. New Magazine Prison – Rs. 450,710.00 – Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat
2. Welikada Prison – Rs. 454,630.00 – Colombo Municipal Council
3. Bogambara Prison – Rs. 367,949.00 – Manikhinna Divisional Secretariat
4. Matara Prison – Rs. 105,046.80 – Matara District Secretariat
5. Mahara Prison – Rs. 386,010.00 – Sirasa/Shakthi Media Network
6. Kuruwita Prison – Rs. 195,150.00 – Yatiyantota Divisional Secretariat
7. Jaffna Prison – Rs. 258,612.00 – Jaffna District Secretariat
8. Monaragala Prison – Rs. 96,471.00 – Monaragala District Disaster Management Centre
9. Agunukolapelessa Prison – Rs. 540,679.00 – Agunukolapelessa Divisional Secretariat
10. Batticaloa Prison – Rs. 209,224.00 – Batticaloa District Secretariat. (Newswire/ AI Image)

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An inmate at the Boossa Prison in Galle has been reported dead after being allegedly attacked with a sharp object, the Department of Prisons said. 

The inmate who was in remand custody is reported to have been attacked by a fellow inmate.

According to Ada Derana, the 46-year-old victim is reported to have died due to injuries sustained in 11 places on the body, by a blunt object.

Investigations have been launched into the incident, with the authorities suspecting whether a recent raid at the prison or a drug-related conflict was linked to the death. (Newswire)

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The Borella Police has launched investigations into the death of an inmate of the Colombo Magazine Prison, who had died after allegedly being assaulted by prison officials and fellow prisoners. 

The 54-year-old father of one was remanded on 23 February after being arrested by the Maharagama Police for peddling ‘ICE’ narcotics. 

It is reported that two officials at the Colombo Magazine Prison had attempted to inspect the man on suspicions of being in possession of ICE narcotics.

The Police stated that the suspect had swallowed the ICE narcotics, after which the two prison officials and two other inmates had brutally assaulted him. 

The inmate who had sustained serious injuries had been admitted to the prison hospital but was later transferred to the Colombo National Hospital, where he passed away on 16 March while receiving treatment. 

During investigations, other inmates at the prison had informed the Police that the two prison officials and two inmates had made the victim drink two bottles of salt water in a bid to make him vomit the ICE narcotics. 

Speaking to the media, the wife of the deceased inmate accused the prison officials of failing to provide immediate medical treatment.

“He had no other illnesses. After being assaulted he had been left there until night, without being taken for medical treatment,” she said. (Newswire)

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A 34-year-old inmate of the Matara Prison was reported dead after the branch of a Bo tree fell onto a prison building last night.

The Police said the tree branch had fallen onto the building in which 12 prisoners had been housed. 

The injured prisoners had been transported to the Matara Hospital, during which one prisoner had succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment.

The deceased prison inmate has been identified as a resident of Midigama. (Newswire) 

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An inmate of the Kegalle Prison has been shot dead while attempting to escape earlier today (08).

The Prisons Department stated that the inmate had been shot while scaling the wall of the prison to escape.

The inmate, who was sentenced to prison by the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court, had attempted to escape while engaging in inmate work assignments. 

The Prisons Department stated that the 33-year-old from Melsiripura had been pronounced dead after being admitted to the Kegalle Teaching Hospital. (NewsWire)

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