It has now been revealed that five prisoners escaped the Welikada prison during the violent clash seen on Friday (November 9). It is said that four of the escapees were convicts while the other was a suspect.

However, Prison officials had earlier reported that only around three prisoners had escaped and only one convict was on the run.

The investigations committee looking into the incident began its work yesterday while the acting Prisons Commissioner Gamini Kulatunga stated that the prison was returned to normalcy yesterday and that prisoners will be transported to their respective court hearings from tomorrow (November 14).

Meanwhile, four weapons stolen from the prison armory have still not been recovered, he stated.

He added that out of the 27 inmates who perished during the clash, post mortems have been performed on 22 of the bodies, following which they have been sent to their relatives.

Police Spokesman SSP Prishantha Jayakoddy stated that no relatives have come forward to claim the other five bodies.

Forty three people, including 13 police commandos, four soldiers and two civilians, were also injured during the riot, which started as STF conducted a search for drugs and smuggled mobile phones. Inmates climbed onto the roof and fired at troops and police.

Sri Lanka’s elite Special Task Force police swapped fire with inmates for several hours until calm was restored early on Saturday, while soldiers arrived in armoured personnel carriers.