Sri Lanka: Forth custodial death within month reported

04/11/2020

An inmate was killed at the Moneragala Prison on 3rd November after assaulted by jail guards, news media reports.

According to Ceylon Today report Tensions had flared up when an inmate hurled a rock at a jailor, injuring him. In response to the incident, two other jailors had allegedly assaulted the inmate and the latter had succumbed to injuries.

It further says that  when the jailor had gone to open the prison cell where the inmate had been housed last morning, the latter had berated the jailor for the delay in opening the cell.

When the incident had escalated into a heated argument between the two, the inmate had got hold of a rock and attacked the jailor. Then two other jailors, who had come to the cell, had assaulted the inmate.

According to sources, the prisoner had succumbed to his injuries after being admitted to the Moneragala Hospital. They added that on being attacked by the inmate, the jailor’s arm had broken and he too had been admitted to hospital for treatment.

When contacted, Prisons Commissioner General, Thushara Upuldeniya said he has already appointed the Badulla Prisons Director to probe the incident.

He said the Moneragala Police were also carrying out a separate investigation. Upuldeniya added the deceased had been regularly imprisoned over various crimes and maintained that the victim had also flouted prison regulations. The deceased has been identified as 42-year-old Upul Nilantha, a resident of Ampara.