The Prisons Department has instructed prisoners who escaped custody of prison authorities during the unrest on the 9th of May, to immediately surrender to the nearest police station.
The Prison Headquarters said that based on a regular prisoners’ rehabilitation programme, a group of 181 inmates of the Watareka Open Prison was taken to a construction site in Colpetty on the 9th.
The Prison Headquarters said they were assaulted by a group in Thalahena, Malabe when the group was returning to the prison premises in the afternoon.
58 of the inmates were unaccounted for, as they fled to save their lives during the unrest.
The Police revealed that 32 inmates surrendered to the Watareka Open Prison, while 26 are still absconding authorities.
The Department noted that prisoners who failed to surrender can do so by presenting themselves to the Watareka Prison or the nearest Police station, or by calling 0114 677 177 and 0114 677 517.
Commissioner General of Prisons Chandana Ekanayake said Police officers will arrive at the inmate’s location if they inform officers of transportation issues, via a phone call.
