Hangmen disappear

1 March 2013 08:54 pm

The two men recently appointed as hangmen to the Welikada and Bogambara prisons have reportedly vacated their posts.

A senior Prisons’ Department official said the two men, who were undergoing training at the Welikada prison, had gone home during the weekend on February 22 and had not reported back for duty.

The two men – from Negombo and Gampaha – were selected for the post on February 1 this year after a lengthy procedure. They had been receiving practical and theoretical training on the functions of the job since February 13.

The training included setting the length of the noose to match the weight of the condemned prisoner and testing the gallows using a sandbag equal to the prisoner’s weight and also the procedure to be followed after the execution takes place.

The training was to end on March 20. Commissioner General of Prisons P.W. Kodippili said a notice for vacation of post would be served on the two men. (Jayantha Samarakoon)