Emil Ranjan Lamahewa sentenced to death over Welikada Prison riots
Former Prison Superintendent Emil Ranjan Lamahewa has been sentenced to death over the 2012 Welikada Prison riots.
He was found guilty of killing 8 prisoners of Welikada Prison
Although he was released from four charges, he was found guilty of one charge and was sentenced to death.
Meanwhile, former Inspector of the Police Narcotics Bureau Neomal Rangajeewa has been acquitted from all charges.
It was reported that the decision was unanimous when the case was taken up before Judges Gihan Kulathunga, Pradeep Hettiarachchi and Manjula Thilakaratne of Permanent High Court at Bar.
Rangajeewa was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on March 28, 2018, over the alleged killing of inmates at Welikada prison during the clashes in 2012.
Lamahewa, who was the then Prisons Superintendent in charge of the Magazine Prison, was arrested by CID at his official residence on Baseline Road, Colombo 09 the following day.
27 prisoners were killed while more than 20 others were injured in the fatal shooting during the Welikada Prison riot on November 09, 2012, when prisoners took control of the populated prison objecting to an unannounced search by the Special Task Force (STF) to nab hidden arms, drugs and mobile phones at the prison.
However, the case is only being heard on the death of eight inmates.
Former Attorney General Dappula de Livera had filed the case against Rangajeewa and Lamahewa under 33 charges.
The indictments against the duo read that the inmates were imprisoned for allegedly engaging in drug dealing. Ex-AG had requested Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya to appoint a Trial-at-Bar to hear the case against Rangajeewa and Lamahewa.
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka advances economic reforms as IMF review approaches October 25, 2024
- Tension at Pamunugama Police Station over alleged assault on arrested youths October 25, 2024
- Three Chinese nationals arrested in Galle for suspected online financial fraud October 25, 2024
- INSS hosts lecture on military innovations and their impact on national security October 25, 2024
- Sri Lanka arrests three over security threats against Israeli tourists October 24, 2024