Eight prison officers killed in Negombo riots posthumously promoted

The Department of Prisons has posthumously promoted the eight prison officers who were killed during last week’s deadly unrest at the Negombo Prison. The violence claimed the lives of eight prison officers and 21 inmates. Second Grade Jailor S.H.S. Chandrawansa has been posthumously promoted to the rank of First Grade Jailor, while the remaining deceased prison guards have been promoted to the rank of Prisons Sergeant. Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has taken over the investigation into the incident and has begun recording statements from injured prison officers and inmates receiving treatment at the Negombo and Colombo National hospitals. Police said statements have so far been recorded from 29 injured officers and inmates at the Colombo National Hospital. According to investigators, inmates who have given statements alleged they had been assaulted by a group linked to an inmate identified as “Katuwellegama Suresh”, who is suspected of playing a key role in the prison unrest. Investigators are continuing to record statements from injured prison officers, although the process has not yet been completed as some remain unfit to be interviewed due to their medical condition. Meanwhile, all female inmates previously housed at the women’s section of the Negombo Prison have been transferred to other prisons. The remains of Prisons Sergeant Gamage Upali, who succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital, were taken to his residence in Kamburupitiya on Friday (10). The funeral of Prisons Sergeant Ruwan Thilakasiri, another officer who died in the violence, was also held on Friday (10). (Newswire)