A prison officer accused of opening fire from the main entrance of the Negombo Prison during the violent unrest on July 5 and 6 has been temporarily transferred to a prison in the Kandy area.
Prisons Department Media Spokesperson and Commissioner A.C. Gajanayake said the transfer was approved at the officer’s request, taking into consideration concerns over his personal security.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) said all identified inmate suspects involved in the incident would be prosecuted on charges including murder, offences under the Firearms Ordinance, and the Public Property Act. The CID added that investigations had revealed offences under Sections 102, 113, 146, 186, 300, 315, 316, 317, and 344 of the Penal Code, in addition to violations of the relevant laws.
According to the CID, the unrest began after inmate “Katuwellegama Suresh” allegedly threatened a prison officer, claiming that the time allocated for his daily exercise was insufficient. Investigators said the threat was the trigger for the violent confrontation.
