Post-mortems reveal brutal assaults on officers killed in Negombo Prison violence | Daily FT

Post-mortem examinations into the deaths of prison officers killed during the recent violence at Negombo Prison have revealed that several victims were brutally assaulted before they died, with forensic experts concluding that they sustained fatal head injuries caused by repeate…

Post-mortem examinations into the deaths of prison officers killed during the recent violence at Negombo Prison have revealed that several victims were brutally assaulted before they died, with forensic experts concluding that they sustained fatal head injuries caused by repeated blows from blunt objects. According to the post-mortem findings, prison officers who succumbed to physical assaults suffered severe head trauma consistent with repeated impacts from heavy objects. A five-member panel of senior Judicial Medical Officers, chaired by Dr. Sujeewa Wickramasinghe, carried out autopsies on 24 of the 28 bodies transferred to the Negombo Hospital. The panel comprised Dr. Prasanna Appuhamy, Dr. Samantha Wijerathne, Dr. Saminda Rajapaksha and Dr. Ramesh Aggiyawanna. The forensic examinations found that 14 of the 24 deaths were caused by gunshot wounds, while nine victims died from blunt force injuries sustained during physical assaults. An open verdict was returned in one case pending further investigations. Meanwhile, proceedings relating to the prison casualties continued before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court on 9 July, where the court was informed that another prison officer had succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo. The recording of evidence relating to that death has now been concluded. Authorities have released the bodies of the 24 victims whose post-mortem examinations have been completed to their families for final rites. Post-mortem examinations on the remaining four bodies are continuing, with officials confirming that one of the deceased awaiting examination is an Indian national. The investigations are being conducted under the direction of Negombo Chief Magistrate Shilani Perera, who has instructed the panel of Judicial Medical Officers to expedite submission of the remaining post-mortem reports. The Magistrate has also directed police to submit a comprehensive report detailing the circumstances surrounding the prison violence and the sequence of events that led to the fatalities.