Army, police looking for 23 Kandakadu escapees

By Norman Palihawadane

Commissioner General of Rehabilitation retired Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi said the police and the Army were carrying out a joint operation in search of some of the 139 inmates who escaped from the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre on Friday. He said about 23 inmates were still at large.

Ten inmates surrendered to the Pulasthipura police station on Saturday.The police arrested 62 other inmates and 24 inmates were admitted to the Welikanda Hospital for treatment following a clash at the rehabilitation centre on Friday (12) evening.

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles, contacted for comment, said that the police were carrying out search operations with the help of the Army as per the request of Treatment and Rehabilitation Center authorities, and an internal affair that should be handled by the Center authorities who have powers to do that.