The Department of Prisons says the Rs. 500,000 paid to the families of prison officers who lost their lives in the recent clash at Negombo Prison was only an initial compensation payment.
Responding to criticism over the amount, Prisons Commissioner and Media Spokesperson A.C. Gajanayake said the department is currently considering providing more than Rs. 2 million in total compensation to each affected family.
In response to an inquiry made by Ada Derana, he also stated that all funeral expenses for the deceased officers were borne by the Department of Prisons.
Meanwhile, the department is also considering providing compensation to the prison officers who were injured in the incident.
Commissioner Gajanayake said seven injured prison officers remain hospitalised, with three of them continuing to receive treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Colombo National Hospital.
