Negombo prison investigations take a new direction following the discovery of a bag of iron knives.

The Criminal Investigation Department has launched a comprehensive investigation into the mysterious incident that occurred inside the Negombo Prison. During a special search conducted by prison officials, a bag containing knife blades, iron weapons, and small machetes of the type used for cutting fish in the Negombo area was found.

Since all these weapons, which have now become court exhibits, were not found scattered in various places but were contained in a single bag, a serious question has arisen for the investigating officers as to how they were brought into the prison. Investigating units state that this clearly indicates prior preparation and an organized nature for some crime.

In this incident, none of the limited number of jailers or wardens in the prison were assaulted or injured, but seven or eight prison police officers were brutally assaulted and killed by the inmates. It has been revealed that these officers were severely sexually abused and suffered very serious injuries, with their private parts being cut off. Investigations are underway to determine whether this was pre-planned by a group of 15 people including Suresh, and how these weapons were kept without the knowledge of the prison administration. Since all CCTV footage inside the prison has been smashed and destroyed, the Criminal Investigation Department has not yet been able to obtain any photographs or information. To restore the destroyed data, it is expected to be referred to the Computer Unit of the University of Colombo or another location in the future, based on court orders.

Currently, the only evidence regarding this incident consists of statements from prison officials, and since they were also part of the administration, investigating units state that these statements cannot be accepted one hundred percent. It is suspected that a group of prison officials is also behind this incident. Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department confirms that media reports circulating that 200 to 300 inmates have been charged with murder are completely false. In a context where even a court order is required to obtain a statement from inmates, there is currently insufficient evidence to file any murder charges, and there are no preparations yet to obtain statements from inmates.

Meanwhile, a special investigation is also being carried out by the Colombo Criminal Investigation Department regarding the murder of a person named Almeida, who was drowned and buried in the Gin River. Many new details related to this incident have been revealed through an affidavit submitted on July 01, 2026, by a prisoner named Hewage Vihanga Dineth Jayasinghe, residing at Kulathunga Mawatha, Makumbura, currently held at Colombo Remand Prison under prison number 4755. He states that on or around June 22, 2026, while he was under a seven-day detention order at the Galle District Criminal Division for another offense, a civilian-dressed officer brought a person near his cell around 8:30 PM. The prisoner stated that he recognized this person as the deceased Tharuka Viraj Rashmika de Silva, also known as Almeida, and that Almeida had visited his house twice before. Subsequently, upon inquiry by officials, two shirts and a pair of denim trousers belonging to Viraj, found at the prisoner's house, were also recovered by officers of the Galle District Criminal Division. He further stated that after being produced before the Homagama Magistrate's Court on the 20th of 2026, he was remanded, and an officer told him that the police had been tracking his movements for 22 days.

Although this affidavit states that Almeida was in the custody of the Galle District Criminal Division, the Galle District Criminal Division claims that he was abducted by a group near a shop on June 20, when they went to arrest him. However, on June 21 and 22, most media outlets reported that the Special Task Force (STF) had arrested him and handed him over to the Galle District Criminal Division. Due to these discrepancies, the Criminal Investigation Department has initiated a phone data investigation to determine whether Almeida was murdered by another gang or if it occurred while he was in police custody. Furthermore, the Criminal Investigation Department is expected to take steps to confirm through court in the future how the media organizations that reported information about this arrest received that information.