Violence at rehab facility: 30 escapees still at large

By Rathindra Kuruwita

About 30 inmates of the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre, who escaped on Sunday, were still at large, the police said.

Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Maj. Gen. Darshana Hettiarachchi said that out of those who had escaped, 201 had been arrested. They were detained at the SSP offices of Welikanda, Polonnaruwa and Mananpitiya and were presented before the Polonnaruwa Magistrates’ Court on Monday night (07). They were remanded till 17 November.

He added that they had sent 218 inmates to a centre in Senapura, following the incident, and 20 had escaped the Senapura centre. However, 16 had been arrested by 12 noon yesterday, he said.

A large number of drug addicts, who are being rehabilitated, escaped Kandakadu on Sunday night, following a clash between two groups at the Centre. One group was from Colombo and the other group from Galle.