Judgement in the Prison riots case fixed for January 6

  The Colombo High Court, Trial-at-Bar today reserved the order in connection with the Welikada Prison riots case for January 6. The case has been filed against three accused together with former Superintendent of Magazine Prison Lamahewage Emil Ranjan over the killing of eight inmates on November 09, 2012. The Trial-at-Bar bench comprising three High Court judges Gihan Kulathunga (President), Pradeep Hettiarachchi, Manjula Thilakarathna announced that the judgment is fixed for January 6 after analysing evidence adduced by both prosecution and defence parties. The Attorney General had filed indictments against Inspector of Police Moses Rangajeewa of Police Narcotics Bureau, Superintendent of Magazine Prison Lamahewage Emil Ranjan and Indika Sampath, an officer attached to the Prisons intelligence unit in connection with the Welikada Prison Riot. The court had decided to proceed with the trial against Indika Sampath in absentia since he was absconding from the court from the beginning. The eight prison inmates who were killed in the incident are Kankanmalage Malinda Nilendra Pelpola alias Malan, Attapattu Sangakkara Nirmala Atapattu, Mohammed Wijaya Rohana alias Gundu, Chinthamani Mohottige Thushara Chandana alias Kalu Thushara, Asarappulige Jothipala alias Ponna Kapila, Harshan Sri Manakeerthi Perera alias Manju Sri, Raigamage Susantha Perera alias Mala Susantha, Devamullage Malith Sameera Perera alias Konda Amila.