Officials linked to Welikada prison riot further remanded

COLOMBO (News 1^st) - Prisons Commissioner Emil Ranjan Lamahewa and OIC of the Police Narcotics Bureau IP Neomal Rangajeewa have been further remanded until the 24^th of April. The duo was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for their alleged involvement in the 2012 Welikada Prison Riot which killed 27 prison inmates. The order was issued when the case was taken up before Colombo Additional Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake. At the hearing, the Additional Magistrate ordered the CID to conduct an extensive investigation into witnesses in the case being influenced and threatened, and for a report to be presented to the court. Additional Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake issued the order on the basis of facts presented to the court by attorneys representing the aggrieved party who pointed out that several eyewitnesses to the case who had provided statements to the CID were influenced and threatened. WATCH HERE: https://www.facebook.com/NewsfirstSL/videos/1907648359295413/