The Prison Headquarters has rejected claims on social media platforms that a group of prison inmates was used yesterday to attack peaceful protesters in Colpetty and Galle Face.
Commissioner General of Prisons TN Upuldeniya said prison inmates under no circumstances will be used for illegal activities.
The Prison Headquarters said that based on a regular prisoners’ rehabilitation programme, a group of inmates of the Watareka Open Prison was taken to a construction site in Colpetty yesterday.
The Prison Headquarters said when the group was returning to the prison premises in the afternoon; they were assaulted by a group in Thalahena, Malabe.
According to the Prison Headquarters, they were accused of being part of the group that attacked protesters in Colpetty and Galle Face.
Meanwhile, 58 of the inmates are now unaccounted for. It said any information regarding the missing inmates can be provided to the Prison Department.
The Prison Headquarters requested the public not to assault the inmates and hand them over to the Prison Department or to the nearest Police station.
