The sudden death of the Welikada inmate, who was imprisoned for being unable to pay 5000, following a clash.

A detainee who had escaped from Welikada Prison, was re-arrested, and was in custody, suddenly fell ill and died after being admitted to the prison hospital. The deceased was a forty-year-old man residing in the Borella area.

This person, arrested by the Cinnamon Gardens Police on charges of possessing 110 milligrams of heroin, was fined Rs. 5000 by the Maligakanda Magistrate's Court. Due to his inability to pay the fine, he was sentenced to three months imprisonment and was detained at Welikada Prison.

On the 3rd of last month, at around 10:00 AM, while he was assigned to clean the outdoor playground of the prison with two other detainees, he escaped from the attention of prison officers. It is stated that three officers were deployed for the security of the detainees at that time. Prison sources say that while escaping, this person also took a wallet and a mobile phone belonging to a prison guard.

Based on information that this detainee was hiding in the 16 Watta area of Ward Place, Borella, a group of prison officers went to the location. A fierce struggle ensued between the officers and the detainee, and with great effort, he was re-arrested and brought back to the prison. Subsequently, this person, who was held in a ward, suddenly fell ill, and doctors have confirmed that he died after being admitted to the prison hospital around 8:30 PM that night.

An internal prison investigation has already been launched into this death, and the Borella Police have also initiated a separate investigation by deploying two special teams. The Borella Police have recorded statements from about ten prison officers and detainees regarding the incident. Furthermore, facts regarding this matter are also scheduled to be reported to the Aluthkade No. 2 Court.

Meanwhile, on the 27th of last month, a detainee was assaulted and died inside Magazine Prison, and in connection with that incident, five prison officers, including a jailer, have already been remanded. Regarding this latest incident, further investigations are being conducted by a team led by the Acting OIC of Borella Police and the OIC of the Colombo South Criminal Investigation Division, under the guidance of the Senior Superintendent of Police and the Assistant Superintendent of Police in charge of the Colombo Central Division.