The Criminal Investigation Department has secured court approval to name 24 additional suspects in the Negombo Prison incident, bringing the total number of suspects to 62. An identification parade has been postponed as key witnesses remain hospitalized.
The investigation into unrest at Negombo Prison has expanded significantly, with the Criminal Investigation Department obtaining court approval on Friday to add 24 new suspects to the case. Negombo Chief Magistrate Shalani Perera issued the order, bringing the total number of suspects to 62—comprised of 38 previously named individuals and the 24 newly identified on Friday. According to NewsFirst, all 24 newly named suspects were inmates present at the prison during the incident, which resulted in 32 deaths.
The magistrate ordered heightened security measures surrounding the suspect identification process. The names of all suspects were withheld from public disclosure in court, with the CID instead submitting the list and supporting documentation directly to the magistrate. All suspects currently in custody have been remanded until August 21, with the court directing prison authorities to produce all 62 suspects by that date.
An identification parade initially scheduled for Friday has been postponed until August 21. The delay was necessitated by the hospitalization of prison officers who are expected to identify suspects and provide witness testimony regarding the incident. The CID indicated that charges against the suspects are expected to include murder, offences under the Firearms Ordinance, the Public Property Act, and relevant provisions of the Penal Code.
