Sunday, March 15

Tag: Welikada prison

Neomal Rangajeewa and Emil Ranjan further remanded
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Neomal Rangajeewa and Emil Ranjan further remanded

Inspector of Police (IP) Neomal Rangajeewa and Prisons Commissioner Emil Ranjan Lamahewa, who were arrested over the Welikada Prison clashes in 2012, has been further remanded until October 02 under the order of the Colombo Magistrate Court. The case was taken up before Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage, today (18). The CID informed the court that investigations are still being carried out with regard to the case and requested that the suspects be further remanded as the Government Analyst’s report on the incident has not been received yet. Considering all details, the Magistrate ordered the suspects to be remanded until 02nd October and CID to produce a progress report on the date. IP Rangajeewa of the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) was arrested by the CID on Mar...
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Rioting female inmates at Welikada prison transferred following attack on officers
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Rioting female inmates at Welikada prison transferred following attack on officers

Following an attack on prison officials who tried to control rioting female inmates at Welikada Prison in Colombo, Prison Department has taken measures to transfer 52 female inmates to other prisons in the country. Eight prison guards have been hospitalized due to the clash that occurred between the protesting prisoners and the officials. About hundred women prisoners have staged a protest on the roof against the transfer of a female prisoner, who was jailed for drug dealing, from the Welikada Prison by the prison administrator when she was caught continuing her trade from the prison. When the prison officers tried to control the riot situation, the female prisoners have attacked the guards. Three female inmates were also injured during the clash. Earlier this month also, femal...
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Other monks in jail also in prison jumper
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Other monks in jail also in prison jumper

Head of Prisons, Thushara Upuldeniya says that there are 15 other monks apart from Ven. Galagodaththe Gnanasara Thero who are serving jail terms over murders and other crimes. Upuldeniya has told the media that these 15 monks were wearing the prison jumper since they were sent to the prison following a court order. He has explained that these monks are serving prison terms of between six months and seven years with Welikada prison housing eight of them. He has added that there were 10 other monks arrested over various charges are being kept in detention. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorale has said the sentencing of Ven. Gnanasara Thero was done under the existing laws and it had nothing to do with politics or any attempt at repression.
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Mervyn Silva says he has evidence to expose Gotabaya
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Mervyn Silva says he has evidence to expose Gotabaya

Former Minister Mervyn Silva says he has evidence to expose former Defence  Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Speaking to reporters today, Silva said that he is prepared to reveal details related to Rajapaksa and the Welikada prison killings. Silva also said that he had already indicated his willingness to make a statement to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on Gotabaya Rajapaksa yet his statement has not been obtained. Meanwhile, Mervyn Silva also said that he fully supports the United National Party (UNP) and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. Silva says he feels there is no one better than Wickremesinghe to lead the UNP. (Colombo Gazette)
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Prisons Commissioner Emil Ranjan Lamahewage arrested over killing of inmates at Welikada Prison
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Prisons Commissioner Emil Ranjan Lamahewage arrested over killing of inmates at Welikada Prison

The Criminal Investigations Department of Sri Lanka police has arrested Commissioner of Prisons (Rehabilitation) Emil Ranjan Lamahewage in connection with the deadly shooting which killed 27 inmates at the Welikada Prison in 2012. Police Media Spokesman, Superintendent of Police Ruwan Gunasekara said the suspect had been apprehended last night (28) at the Prison official quarters of No. 142, Baseline Road, Colombo 09. At the time of the prison riot in 2012, Lamahewa has functioned as the Prison Superintendent of the Welikada Magazine Prison. The suspect along with Inspector Neomal Rangajeewa of the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), who was also arrested yesterday, will be produced before Colombo Magistrate today (29). Neomal Rangajeewa was arrested by the CID over the alleged kill...
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Court dismisses Welikada Prison riot petition
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Court dismisses Welikada Prison riot petition

The Court of Appeal on Monday decided to dismiss a petition filed in connection with the death of 27 inmates in the Welikada Prison in 2012 since an investigation has already been initiated by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of police. The Bench comprising President of the Appellate Court Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justice Shiran Gunaratne gave this order when the petition filed by Convener of the Movement for the Protection of Prisoners Sudesh Nandimala de Silva was taken up for consideration. The Petitioner in his petition has requested the court to issue a writ order to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to conduct a full investigation into the killing of the Welikada inmates. The deadly riot at the country's largest and most crowded prison on November ...
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Police officer to be arrested for Welikada murders
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Police officer to be arrested for Welikada murders

The Attorney General’s Department has reportedly issued instructions to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to arrest a police officer in connection with the killing of inmates at the Welikada Prison in 2011. Accordingly, the CID it is learnt is looking at arresting Inspector of Police Neomal Rangajeeva for his alleged involvement in the murders. A Sinhala daily newspaper has reported that Rangajeewa has been implicated in the incident in the Welikada Prison by eye witnesses despite an entry in the Police log book that Rangajeewa was on assignment in another area. According to the news report, the Attorney General’s Department has also issued instructions on an Army Brigadier who had allegedly issued orders to carry out the assassination of inmates at the prison.
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Edu of prisoners’ children at a low level – AFPc
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Edu of prisoners’ children at a low level – AFPc

BY Ruwan Laknath Jayakody In light of underperformance at the school level, the Association of Friends of Prisoners' Children (AFPC) highlighted the need to adopt a different approach to uplifting the education levels of children who have a parent currently within the penal system. The Association, through their involvement as a member of the Welikada Prison (including the Magazine Prison) Welfare Board, is presently sponsoring 300 students from rural village areas across the country from Grade Five upwards, who are children whose fathers are incarcerated in the male ward at the Welikada Prison. Chairperson of the Association, Dhammi Fernando said that as a result of the primary breadwinner being behind bars, they are essentially raised by a single parent, the mother, who is in tu...
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Victims of Welikada prison riot urged to provide information to receive compensation
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Victims of Welikada prison riot urged to provide information to receive compensation

The Ministry of Prison Reforms has announced that the relatives of the deceased and those who were injured in the shooting at the Welikada Prison in 2012 should contact the Ministry immediately if they have not received compensation yet. Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs D.M. Swaminathan said compensation is being given to the victims or the relatives of the deceased now and compensation has already been awarded to families of 10 deceased prisoners and five injured. However, the Ministry has not yet received the information of 16 victims. The Ministry in a statement said the compensation can be paid before December this year if those victims have provided the relevant information expeditiously. The government according to a cab...
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