KILLING 27 WELIKADA PRISON INMATES IN 2012: A FRESH PROBE ORDERED

09/07/2017

Read the petition filed by former inmate Sudesh Silva:PR pettion Welikada killings

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Pujith Jayasundara has ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to conduct a further investigation into the 2012 Welikada Prison riot.

The order was given following the recommendations of the three-member committee appointed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The committee, headed by former High Court Judge Nimal Nambuwasamge presented its report to the Prime Minister in June 2015. The committee also recommended that a further investigation needs to be conducted to grant compensation to the victims.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal on Friday fixed for hearing on July 28, a petition requesting the court to order the IGP and the Director of the CID to conduct a formal investigation into the deaths of 27 inmates at the Welikada prison during the riot.

The petition was filed by Sudesh Silva, who was an inmate of the prison during the riot. He was called before a two-judge bench, comprising President of Court of Appeal, Justice L.T.B. Diddeniya and Justice S. Thurairajah.

The petitioner, in his writ petition, had pointed out that although four years have elapsed since this incident, no action has been taken and requested a proper investigation to be conducted.

The petitioner said after he was released from remand prison, he made a complaint to the CID on February 2, 2015, as an eyewitness to the incident.

When the petition was recalled on Friday, Counsel appearing for the Attorney General requested more time to study the petition.

The Welikada prison riot in November, 2012 resulted in the deaths of 27 inmates, and injuries to a prison officer and around 40 prisoners. The riot had occurred when STF personnel and commandos attempted to raid the L ward and Chapel ward of the prison.

Sunday Observer