An eye witness had petitioned the Appeals Court seeking  a writ ordering the IG and CID Director to immediately conduct an investigation into the Welikada incident and taking into consideration the points presented in the petition, which was taken up yesterday at the Appeals Court, this order was issued.

The petition filed by an eye witness who was present during the incident, Sudesh Nandimal de Silva of Tissamaharamaya, had cited the Commissioner General of Prisons, IG, CID Director, Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister D.M. Swaminathan and the AG as respondents.

The petitioner stated in his case that on the orders of the former  Defence Secretary, a search operation was launched at the Welikada Prison and a clash had erupted between the security forces and prison inmates, while the security forces had used tear gas and weapons to inhumanely control the riot which resulted in the death of 27 inmates.