Sri Lanka, Jan. 15 -- A detainee who was being held in a court cell while awaiting production before the Hingurakgoda Magistrate's Court died after falling ill and being admitted to hospital, police said.

According to the police, the deceased was a detainee brought from the Polonnaruwa Remand Prison on Tuesday (14). He has been identified as a 74-year-old resident of Polonnaruwa.

The individual had been produced before court in connection with a case involving the alleged theft of a Buddha statue in Minneriya. Although he was granted bail by the court, he remained in remand custody at the Polonnaruwa Remand Prison as no one came forward to post bail on his behalf.

While being held in the court cell at Hingurakgoda, the detainee reporte...