Six killed in foiled jailbreak

Sarath MALALASEKERA and Kapila SOMARATNE- Panadura group corr.

Six hardcore prisoners who were serving their sentences at the Kalutara Prison were shot dead by Prisons officers when they attempted to escape by threatening the security guards at the entrance to the Prisons’ checkpoint early yesterday. Investigations directed by Western Province (South) Range Deputy Inspector General of Police Prasanna Nanayakkara assisted by Kalutara North Senior SP Ravi Wijegunawardena revealed that the prisoners in two cells in the Kalutara Prison had attempted to escape at around 3 a.m. threatening the security guards.

The Prison officers were forced to open fire, killing six and injuring four other prisoners. One of the injured prisoners was rushed to the Colombo National Hospital as his condition was serious, Police said.

Kalutara North HQI Ajith Kumara is assisting in the investigations to ascertain whether the prisoners who attempted to escape and were killed are involved in any terrorist organisation.

Nimal Kumara Hewavitharana, Madduma Chandena Pushpakumara, M. Erick Susantha alias Lokumalli, Suresh D. Weerasinghe, C. Dasun, Weerajith Soysa and Suresh Anton were killed while S. M. Ajith Kumara, Gurusinghe Arachchige Nilanga, M. H. Susantha Fernando and Mahinda A. Thusara, were seriously injured.

The Kalutara Magistrate who visited the Kalutara prison, held the Magisterial inquiry. He ordered the Kalutara AJMO to hold the autopsies.