Five suspects, including prison officers, have now been arrested over the death of a remand prisoner at the Colombo Magazine Prison, police confirmed on Tuesday (April 28). Three suspects — a jailer and two prison guards — were produced in court the same day and remanded until May 6. Two more prison guards were arrested later on Tuesday and handed over to Borella Police.
The arrests followed an altercation inside the prison on Monday (April 27) involving two inmates and a guard, which left three individuals injured. All three were admitted to the prison hospital, where one of the inmates — a 37-year-old resident of Nawagampura, Colombo 14 — succumbed to his injuries. He had been in remand custody on charges relating to possession of narcotics, according to police.
On the orders of the Inspector General of Police, investigations are being carried out under the supervision of Colombo Division DIG Nishantha Soysa. Borella Police, the Colombo Division Criminal Investigation Division, and the Colombo South Division Criminal Investigation Unit are jointly assisting the probe.
The custody death adds to recent scrutiny of conditions and oversight inside Sri Lanka’s correctional system. Earlier this month, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka ruled that the arrest of Prisons Commissioner General Thushara Upuldeniya was carried out in breach of constitutional protections, and gang members held at the Welisara Navy Camp were transferred to Boossa Prison following intelligence about an assassination plot being planned from inside the facility.
Sources: Newswire — initial arrests, Newswire — two more arrested, Ada Derana — three remanded, Ada Derana — two more arrested.
