Emil Ranjan Lamahewa sentenced to death over Welikada Prison riots

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – Former Prison Superintendent Emil Ranjan Lamahewa has been sentenced to death over the 2012 Welikada Prison riots.

He was found guilty of killing several Welikada inmates.

Former Inspector of the Police Narcotics Bureau Neomal Rangajeewa was acquitted by the Colombo High Court bench comprising Judges Gihan Kulatunga, Pradeep Hettiarachchi, and Manjula Tilakaratne.

The case was heard against former Inspector of the Police Narcotics Bureau Neomal Rangajeewa and former Prison Superintendent Emil Ranjan Lamahewa over the death of eight inmates.

The Police Special Task Force launched a special operation on the 9th of November, 2012, to seize illegal and banned items in the possession of Welikada Prison inmates.

During the operation several prisoners died, resulting in major backlash from human rights activists and the general public.

The Attorney General then filed the case against the duo.