The Department of Prisons has posthumously promoted the eight prison officers who lost their lives in the recent riots at the Negombo Prison.

The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of eight prison officers and 21 inmates.

Investigations into the incident have been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which has commenced recording statements from injured prison officers and inmates receiving treatment at the Negombo Hospital and the Colombo National Hospital.

So far, statements have been recorded from 29 officers and inmates receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital.

Police stated that all the inmates who provided statements had been assaulted by a group linked to “Katuwellegama Suresh”, who is alleged to have been involved in causing the unrest.

Statements have also been recorded from injured prison officers at the National Hospital; however, the process is yet to be completed as some officers remain unfit to provide statements due to their medical condition.

Meanwhile, the eight prison officers who were killed during the clash have been granted posthumous promotions by the Department of Prisons.

Second Grade Jailor S.H.S. Chandrawansa, who was killed in the incident, has been promoted to the rank of First Grade Jailor, while the other deceased prison guards have been promoted to the rank of Prisons Sergeant.

Meanwhile, all female inmates held at the women’s section of the Negombo Prison were transferred to other prisons today.

The remains of Sergeant Gamage Upali, who died while receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital after sustaining critical injuries during the clash, were taken to his residence in Kamburupitiya today (10).

Meanwhile, the funeral of Sergeant Ruwan Thilakasiri, another prison officer who died in the incident, was held this afternoon at the Ambagahawewa Public Cemetery.