First Covid death of 82-year-old from prison cluster

• The first PCR test conducted on the inmate was negative
• The second PCR conducted following the death of the inmate, tested positive

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

An 82-year-old inmate at the Mahara prison who was serving life imprisonment has died at the Ragama Hospital and confirmed Covid positive.  

Prisons Spokesman Chandana Ekanayake said the first PCR test conducted on the inmate was negative.   
The inmate was admitted to the hospital due to health complications.   

The second PCR conducted following the death of the inmate, tested positive, he said.  
The inmate who was convicted of murder was taken to the Welikada Prison in 2006.  

The deceased was reportedly a cancer patient who had been under treatment at the Welikada Prison Hospital. A group of inmates were recently transferred to the Mahara Prison Hospital after the prison hospital was turned into a corona treatment centre.  

The deceased inmate who was convicted of murder was reportedly taken to the Welikada Prison in 2006.