Shani Abeysekera tests positive for Covid. Prison Cluster exceeds 700
Former Director of the CID Shani Abeysekera tested positive for COVID19 in Mahara prison.
He has been transferred to Welikada prison hospital from Mahara prison, prison officials said.
Abeysekara was arrested by officers from the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) on July 31st over allegations that he fabricated evidence in a 2013 murder investigation involving former Police officer Vaas Gunawardena.
He is since spent his time in remand custody in Mahara prison.
A total of 719 inmates from prisons across the country have so far contracted the coronavirus.
One prisoner, an 82-year-old man from the Mahara prison, is reported to have died due to the virus as yet.