By Pamodi Waravita
The bodies of the Mahara Prison inmates killed during the recent clash within the prison premises will not be cremated, The Morning learnt.
The final decision on the cremation of the deceased inmates will depend on the report of the postmortem investigations that will be conducted by the five-member expert panel, as ordered by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (9).
Since eight of the 11 inmates who were killed in the unrest last week had posthumously tested positive for Covid-19, Attorney General’s Co-ordinating Officer State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne requested for the cremation of the bodies in accordance with the current Covid-19-related regulations.
However, Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) President Senaka Perera stressed that the decision to cremate the 11 deceased inmates should not be taken until the criminal investigation is completed.
The Court also determined that the remains of the inmates will be transferred to the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) to conduct the CT scans of the deceased to fulfil the requirements of the postmortem investigations. This will be done under strict security and health safety regulations.
Perera also stated that the expert panel appointed to carry out the postmortem investigations will be required to give the report within two weeks.
The five-member expert panel consists of Dr. H.P. Wijewardena, Dr. S.J.C. Perera, forensics ballistics expert Dr. P.D. Dasanayaka, Deputy Government Analyst P.G. Madawala, and Professor Jean Perera from the College of Forensic Pathologists of Sri Lanka. The case will be taken up again on 16 December 2020.
Eleven inmates at the overcrowded Mahara Prison were killed following the unrest which broke out on 29 November. The unrest is reported to have occurred as a result of rising Covid-19 fears among the inmates, which has led to the use of force by the authorities. A total of 108 others, including two prison officials, were injured during the incident.
Since eight of the 11 inmates who were killed in the unrest last week had posthumously tested positive for Covid-19, Attorney General’s Co-ordinating Officer State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne requested for the cremation of the bodies in accordance with the current Covid-19-related regulations.
However, Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) President Senaka Perera stressed that the decision to cremate the 11 deceased inmates should not be taken until the criminal investigation is completed.
The Court also determined that the remains of the inmates will be transferred to the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) to conduct the CT scans of the deceased to fulfil the requirements of the postmortem investigations. This will be done under strict security and health safety regulations.
Perera also stated that the expert panel appointed to carry out the postmortem investigations will be required to give the report within two weeks.
The five-member expert panel consists of Dr. H.P. Wijewardena, Dr. S.J.C. Perera, forensics ballistics expert Dr. P.D. Dasanayaka, Deputy Government Analyst P.G. Madawala, and Professor Jean Perera from the College of Forensic Pathologists of Sri Lanka. The case will be taken up again on 16 December 2020.
Eleven inmates at the overcrowded Mahara Prison were killed following the unrest which broke out on 29 November. The unrest is reported to have occurred as a result of rising Covid-19 fears among the inmates, which has led to the use of force by the authorities. A total of 108 others, including two prison officials, were injured during the incident.