PHONE CALLS UNDER SCRUTINY
Search for three more escapees Seven weapons missing Damage about Rs.10M
They had freed a large number of inmates within the L-Hall and the Chapel Hall where hardcore criminals were accommodated. After breaking into the armoury the prisoners had removed 82 assault rifles and semi-automatic guns
An inquiry is taking place looking into the mobile communications of Special Task Force (STF) and Prisons Department officers to assess the elements which instigated the prison riot minutes after the STF concluded a massive search operation in the Chapel Ward and the L- Hall inside the Welikada Prison Complex on Friday.
Investigations are also being conducted on how a trishaw and a van came across to the inmates in which they attempted to escape. However the attempts failed.
Seven armed inmates who managed to escape during the riots, surrendered to the police and the search operation is still underway in the Borella and Dematagoda areas to track down three more armed inmates who escaped, Police said. They said they were on the lookout to recover seven weapons as well.
The number of inmates who managed to escape during the riots had not been confirmed yet by prison authorities but they noted that no LTTE suspects were able to.
Apart from this inquiry, the Ministry of Re- habilitation and Prison Reforms has also initiated an inquiry by appointing a three member committee who are to submit a comprehensive report to Parliament.
Investigators have come across information that the inmates at the L-Hall had drilled a hole through a wall and escaped, which then led to the armed clashes.
They had then set free a large number of inmates within the L-Hall and then at the Chapel Hall, where hard core criminals were accommodated. In the meantime they had come across the armoury and taken away 82 assault rifles and semi-automatic guns.
According to the STF, the search operation began at around 12.30 p.m. and concluded at around 3.45 p.m. Both wards accommodated about 3500 inmates.
The search operation was a continuation of the search they carried out two months ago to hunt for mobile phones. Within the course of an hour, the inmates were well armed and were able to face the STF and prison officers.
However, the confrontation came to an end when commandoes and troops attached to the 14th Division of the Army based in Colombo, entered the prison complex to restore order.
Sixteen bodies are still at the hospital. Another eleven bodies of those inmates who were found in the prison on Saturday were sent to the Colombo National Hospital. However, a report will be prepared for each inmate for his role, who was killed later during the confrontation with the STF and the Army.
Notorious criminals identified as Konda Amila, Kalu Thushara, Marlon, Gundu, A.Kapila, Lester De Silva and Manju Sri Harsha were killed during the confrontation.
Kapila, Lester and Marlon were on death row and the rest were serving life sentences, prison authorities said. Manju Sri Harsha was one of the main suspects who carried out the killing of two monks at the Kotte Raja Maha Viharaya. Jewellery worth millions of rupees belonging to prisoners and kept in a special room had also gone missing. A large stock of medicine, food and several valuable items belonging to prison officials had also been removed. The damage to the buildings and equipment has been estimated at Rs.10 million.