Colombo Magistrate Court today ordered Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to send the firearms used during the Welikada Prison riot which killed 27 inmates in 2012, to the Government Analysts for re-testing and further remanded the two suspect.
When the case was taken up today, Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage extended the remand of the former Commissioner of Prisons Emil Ranjan Lamahewa and Inspector Neomal Rangajeewa of the Police Narcotics Bureau until 31st of July.
At the hearing today, the CID informed the court that in the Government Analyst’s report on the 25 T56 weapons which were found during the investigations, same T56 firearm is noted twice and requested the court to issue an order to send the firearms to Government Analyst for re-testing.
The Magistrate acknowledged the request and ordered the CID to forward the firearms to the Government Analyst’s Department and obtain a new report.
After considering the submissions, the Magistrate further ordered the two suspects be remanded till the 31st of this month and the CID to submit a report stating the progress of investigations.
The deadly riot at the country’s largest and most crowded prison on November 9th, 2012 was of an enormous magnitude resulting in deaths of 27 inmates, and injuries to a prison officer and 20 prisoners.
The riot occurred when prisoners took control of the prison after objecting to a search by the police Special Task Force who entered the prison to nab hidden arms, drugs and mobile phones in the prison premises.
Courtesy: Colombo Page
