Committee appointed to probe Negombo Prison damage

Colombo, July 11 (Daily Mirror) - A committee has been appointed to investigate the damage caused to property at the Negombo Prison following the recent clash between two groups of inmates.

Prison Media Spokesperson and Prison Commissioner A.C. Gajanayake said another committee has also been appointed by the Prisons Department to conduct a separate investigation into the clash itself.

He said arrangements are currently underway to transfer more than 600 inmates from the Negombo Prison to other prisons as part of measures following the incident.

Meanwhile, the Prisons Department has decided to grant immediate promotions and compensation to the eight prison officers who died during the clash.

The confrontation, which broke out between two groups of inmates over an alleged drug trafficking incident, left more than 100 people, including prison officers, injured. 

A total of 29 people, including eight prison officers and 21 inmates, died in the clash.