Killing of 27 inmates at Welikada Prison; Writ petition filed seeking justice | Daily News

Killing of 27 inmates at Welikada Prison; Writ petition filed seeking justice

A writ petition was yesterday filed in the Court of Appeal seeking an order directing the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Director of the CID to commence an investigation into the incidents of December 9 and 10, 2012 in the Welikada Prison resulting in the death of 27 prisoners. Sudesh Nandimal Silva who was in remand custody at the time of the alleged incidents took place had filed this writ petition citing Commissioner General of Prisons, Director of CID, Inspector General of Police, Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs and the Attorney General as respondents. The petitioner stated that he was wishing to bring to the attention of the Court what he saw and was within his personal knowledge of the said tragic incidents for the purpose of obtaining the reliefs.

On 9th November 2012 at about 1.00 pm the petitioner and other prisoners at Welikada prison received information that personnel from the Army and STF were about to enter the prison to conduct a search operation. The petitioner got to know that here was an argument between prison officials and a contingent TID, STF waiting at the gate of the prison on the procedure related to the search operation.

The petitioner has made a complaint to the CID on February 2, 2015. The petitioner stated that although four years has lapsed since the brutal killings of these prisoners no action has yet been taken by the police or the Attorney General to conduct the investigation and prosecute the offenders. This petition was filed through senior counsel K.S. Ratnavale and counsel Senaka Perera. 


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