Two newly recruited hangmen for the Welikada and Bogambara Prisons have started their first fourteen-day training session at the Centre for Research and Training in Corrections of the Welikada Prison, official sources confirmed.

They said the appointment letters were given to these two hangmen, from the Pitipana and Negombo areas, at the Welikada Prisons premises yesterday.

In July last year, the Prisons Department called for applications for the posts of hangmen and some 175 had responded. Official sources also said during the training period, special protection would be given to them.(Jayantha Samarakoon)