A total of 217 inmates from the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Welikanda, Polonnaruwa have been remanded, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said on Tuesday (08).
Speaking to NewsWire, he said that the inmates have been remanded until the 17th of November 2022 over the brawl that broke out on Sunday (06) at the rehabilitation centre.
“218 inmates have been transferred to the Senapura Camp, while 80 inmates are still at the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre, and five are receiving treatment in the hospital,” he added.
Stating that 29 inmates had fled the centre and were yet to surrender, SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that measures are underway to apprehend them.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Military is continuing its investigations into the brawl that escalated into violence at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre on Sunday.
Military Spokesman Brigadier Ravi Herath told NewsWire, that the situation has been contained, while the process to estimate the damage caused to the facilities is underway.
He further said that a head count on the inmates at the facility is underway to ascertain the injured and those in need of assistance.
A brawl had initially broken out between two inmates while bathing, which had later escalated into a violent situation between two groups at the Rehabilitation Centre, after which several had fled the premises.
The conflicting parties had also attempted to enter the armoury at the Rehabilitation Centre, during which Army personnel stationed at the premises had fired shots into the air to de-escalate the situation.
Four inmates and an Army Soldier had sustained injuries in the incident, while special measures were implemented to apprehend the inmates who had escaped.
On Monday (07), President Ranil Wickremesinghe called for a full report on the incident at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre.
The President also issued instructions on the steps that must be taken to prevent such incidents from recurring.
According to the President’s Media Division, the directives were issued following discussions with Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe. (NewsWire)
