SC to take up Lamahewa’s petition tomorrow

The Supreme Court yesterday decided to take up the appeal petition filed requesting the acquittal of ex-prisons commissioner Emil Ranjan Lamahewa, who was convicted and sentenced to death over the death of eight inmates in the Welikada Prison clash on November 9, 2012, tomorrow (8). The petition was called before Supreme Court Bench of Justices S. Thurairaja, Shiran Gunaratne and Achala Wengappuli.

But since it has to be considered by a five-member bench, it was ordered to be called tomorrow (8).

On November 9, 2012, officers of the Police Special Task Force conducted a special search operation in the Welikada Prison to find illegal weapons in the possession of the inmates.

During the raid, a clash erupted between the security forces and the prison inmates. Eight people died in the incident.

Charges were filed in the Colombo High Court against Police Anti-Narcotics Bureau former police inspector Neomal Rangajeewa, Prison Intelligence Officer Sampath Imaduwage and the then Commissioner of Prisons Emil Ranjan Lamahewa.

The three-judge bench of the High Court which heard the case released the prison intelligence officer during the trial.

Its decision was announced on January 12, 2022 and the first defendant Rangajeewa was acquitted of all charges.

The former prisons commissioner was found guilty and sentenced to death.

This petition had been filed on the basis that the manner in which the punishment was imposed was against the law. In this appeal, the accused Lamahewa has requested that the High Court decision be annulled and he be acquitted.

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