COLOMBO (News 1^st) – IP Neomal Rangajeewa of the Police Narcotics Bureau was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department earlier today (March 28) for his role in the Welikada Prison Riots in 2012.

The petition filed by IP Rangajeewa requesting that his arrest be prevented was dismissed by the Supreme Court today (March 28).

The three-member committee appointed to investigate the Welikada Prison Riots, in its report revealed that IP Rangajeewa was heading the process of identifying inmates on the 9th of November 2012, where 27 prisoners were killed within the Welikada Prison.

Based on the report, IP Rangajeewa is the chief suspect in the Welikada Riots.

IP Rangajeewa was injured in a shooting in Piliyandala last year (2017) when attempting to apprehend drug dealers.