• CID ordered to begin investigations
• Inquest reports confirm 19 died of firearm injuries, the rest of blunt-weapon injuries

Negombo Magistrate Shilani Perera formally declared on Friday (23) that a crime occurred in the killing of 10 Police Emergency Tactical Force officers and several inmates inside the Negombo Prison. She ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to conduct all necessary investigations, take action against those responsible, and report to court on Thursday (29).The order was issued after the Magistrate concluded the inquest proceedings, having considered the post-mortem reports and heard evidence.The inquest reports, presented to the court on Friday (23), covered two lists: one relating to the officers and the other to the detainees. The reports confirmed that 19 individuals had died of firearm injuries, while the remaining victims had died of injuries caused by blunt weapons.

The Magistrate noted that all the deaths had resulted from firearms, rifle-type firearms, and blunt weapons. The court found that gunshots to the head and chest, together with blows to the abdomen and hip area, had caused hemorrhaging of internal organs, which had been the main cause of death.“The court has observed that the cause of these deaths was gunshot injuries to the head and chest, and blows to the abdomen and hip area. Death also occurred due to internal hemorrhaging of organs. I direct that this be investigated and a report submitted to court on 29 October,” the Magistrate said.The official declaration of the incident as a crime was the most significant outcome of the day, as such a finding must be made legally through inquest reports and formal findings. The Magistrate also directed that death certificates be issued to the families of the deceased.The CID subsequently submitted a further report to court. Investigating officers said that 106 suspects – 81 men and 25 women – had been named so far and produced for identification parades. Several parades were held in the morning and several suspects were reported to have been identified.The CID also informed the court that it had yet to receive any Government Analyst’s report on the firearms, blood samples, or DNA testing.Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) Chairman, Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera requested the court to note the continuing delay in receiving the Government Analyst’s reports, which was causing severe prejudice, and to expedite the process. When the Magistrate questioned the CID, officers said the productions had been sent and that efforts were under way to obtain the reports quickly.

It was then suggested that a formal reminder be sent to the Government Analyst. The Magistrate ordered that a reminder be issued and that the letter be hand-delivered so that the reports could be obtained as quickly as possible.Having considered the submissions, the Magistrate ordered that all 106 suspects be further remanded until Thursday (29). Suspects who did not need to be produced for identification parades were permitted to appear before court via WhatsApp technology on the next hearing date.

Perera appeared for the deceased inmates when the case was called. The CID’s further report was submitted by a team led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Chandana Kaluarachchi of the Commercial Crimes Division.  The clash at the Negombo Prison on 5 and 6 July claimed the lives of 10 prison officers and more than 20 inmates, while over 100 others were injured. The CID is conducting the investigations and the case has been filed under the Penal Code for murder, the Public Property Act, and the Firearms Ordinance.Similar court findings were made following earlier clashes at the Welikada and Mahara Prisons. After inquests there concluded that crimes had been committed, cases were referred to the CID so that legal action could be taken against the officers who led the shootings and assaults.

The case is scheduled to be called again on Thursday.