The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday informed the Negombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that four inmates had been named as suspects in connection with the deadly clash at the Negombo Prison, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of prison officers and inmates and caused extensive damage to prison property.
The CID made the submission when the case relating to the Negombo Prison clash was taken up before the Negombo Chief Magistrate yesterday (27 July).
Accordingly, the Chief Magistrate ordered the superintendents of the respective prisons where the four inmates are currently being held to produce them before court.
The Magistrate also directed Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the CID Shani Abeysekara to identify all other individuals found through investigations to have been involved in the clash, name them as suspects, arrest them and produce them before court.
Submitting a further report, the CID informed court that the four inmates were being named as suspects for the first time in connection with the deaths of prison officers and inmates, serious and minor injuries sustained during the clash, and extensive damage caused to prison property.
The four suspects were identified as Supun Madhusanka alias “Heenatiyana Supun”, Shane Dilan Silva, Ashan Fernando alias “Kalu Malli”, and Sameera Sampath alias “Baba”.
The CID requested court to issue orders to the superintendents of the prisons where the four inmates are being held to produce them before court.
Investigators also informed court that other individuals suspected of involvement in the clash would be identified as the investigation progressed and that necessary steps would be taken to produce them before court.
The CID said several teams of investigators operating under four Assistant Superintendents of Police were continuing investigations into different aspects of the incident.
The CID further informed court that a progress report on all investigations relating to the Negombo Prison clash would be submitted on the next hearing date.
