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The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court has adjourned until September 30 the case filed against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake over allegations of misappropriating public funds.

Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena, who heard the case today (08), ordered that the Attorney General’s position on the legal action to be taken against the two respondents be presented to court at the next hearing.

During the proceedings, Senior State Counsel Samadari Piyasena informed the court that investigations into the matter had been completed and that the relevant files had been forwarded to the Attorney General. She requested a date to communicate the Attorney General’s stance on the case.

Accordingly, the Magistrate directed that the complaint be recalled on September 30, when the Attorney General’s position is expected to be notified to court.

The case was filed over allegations that Wickremesinghe misused government funds to travel to the United Kingdom in 2023 to attend a ceremony held in honour of his wife, Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe, at a British university while serving as President.

The former President was arrested on August 22, 2025, after appearing before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to provide a statement. He was later produced before court and remanded until August 26, 2025.

Following consideration of medical reports, Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura released him on three surety bails of Rs. 5 million each, and the case was subsequently scheduled for October 29, 2025.

According to the case, the CID arrested Wickremesinghe over allegations that he misused Rs. 16.6 million in public funds during a one-and-a-half-day visit to the United Kingdom, which had been presented as an official visit.

However, lawyers appearing for the former President argued that the visit was made following an invitation from a British university and that there is no clear distinction between official and private visits undertaken by a sitting President. They maintained that no misappropriation of state funds had taken place.

Two inmates who were transferred from the Negombo Prison following the recent unrest have died, according to reports.

One of the inmates, who was relocated to the Angunakolapelessa Prison, died after being transferred to the facility. Meanwhile, another inmate who was sent to the Boossa Prison passed away after falling suddenly ill and being admitted to the Karapitiya Hospital in Galle.

Following the unrest at the Negombo Prison, a total of 1,033 inmates have been transferred to various correctional facilities across the country.

Among the inmates transferred to the Boossa Prison is an individual known as “Katuwellegama Suresh,” who has been accused of leading the violent confrontation that took place inside the prison.

A total of 734 inmates involved in the recent clash at Negombo Prison have been transferred to other prisons, Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara informed Parliament today.

The Minister said the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has commenced an investigation into the incident, in addition to an internal inquiry being conducted by the Prisons Department.

According to Minister Nanayakkara, investigations have revealed that inmates had obtained several weapons during the clash. He said inquiries are currently underway to determine whether the weapons were taken after inmates broke into the prison armoury or whether they were seized from prison officials.

The Minister further stated that postmortem examinations are being conducted to establish whether the deaths that occurred during the incident were caused by gunfire or assaults by inmates.

The death toll from the recent violence at Negombo Prison has risen to 27 after another injured inmate died while receiving treatment at the Negombo Hospital.

Police said the inmate succumbed to injuries sustained during the prison clash.

According to police, the latest death brings the total number of fatalities from the incident to 27.

The fatalities now include seven prison officers and 20 inmates, police added.

Opposition Members of Parliament staged a protest by wearing black armbands at the commencement of the parliamentary session this morning (08), demanding that the government take responsibility for the deaths of 27 people following the recent clash at the Negombo Prison.

According to opposition MPs, the protest was held to highlight their concerns over the incident and to call on the government to accept accountability for the loss of lives.

The MPs participated in the protest as Parliament began its proceedings today, wearing black armbands as a symbol of mourning and their demand for responsibility over the deaths.

The bodies of seven prison officers who were killed during the violent clash at the Negombo Prison were brought to the Welikada Prison this morning (08) in a funeral procession.

A special tribute ceremony was held at the Welikada Prison premises to honour the deceased officers before their remains are handed over to their respective families for final rites.

The officers, all attached to the Prison Special Tactical Unit, were killed during a violent confrontation that broke out inside the Negombo Prison on Monday (06).

According to prison sources, the officers were subjected to brutal attacks by inmates while attempting to restore order during the tense situation inside the facility.

The incident reportedly occurred after prison authorities began distributing food and refreshments to inmates following the restoration of control after unrest that had developed inside the prison on Sunday.

During the distribution process, a clash broke out among inmates, during which a prison officer who attempted to intervene was attacked with stones and other objects.

The Chief Jailor, who had recently been appointed to the Pallansena Prison and was present at the location to assist in controlling the situation, was also reportedly attacked by inmates.

He was rescued by fellow prison officers, but members of the Prison Emergency Assault Tactical Force who entered the area to bring the situation under control faced severe attacks.

Prison sources said some officers were attacked with large stones thrown at their heads, resulting in the deaths of seven officers.

The clash at the Negombo Prison claimed the lives of 27 people, while more than 100 others were injured and admitted to hospitals.