Second political prisoner dies in Sri Lanka's prison attack

Another Tamil political prisoner who was brutally assaulted by the security forces and prison guards during an attack on Vavunia prison inmates in late June succumbed to his injuries Tuesday in a hospital in Colombo.

Mariyadas Navis Dilrukshan was among thirty one Tamil political prisoners forcibly removed by state security forces from Vavunia to Anuradhapura and Mahara prisons in the Sinhala dominated south on 30th June. He was put on a life support machine as he lay in a coma since been admitted to the South Colombo hospital in Ragama on the third of July.

No visits allowed

Thirty six year old inmate, a native of Pasaiyoor in Jaffna was arrested by the military in October 2009 and held in custody without charges. The Catholic Bishop of Mannar Dr. Rayappu Joseph and other church officials were denied access to the prisoners in hospital. 

Tamil political prisoner Ganesharuban Nimalaruban who also received injuries in the Vavunia prison raid was pronounced dead on arrival when state forces handed over his body to hospital authorities on the third of July.

© JDS