A prisoner who tried to escape from Dumbara Prison is shot dead

A 27-year-old remand prisoner who attempted to escape from Pallekele, Dumbara Prison, died this afternoon (01) from gunshot wounds inflicted by prison security officers.

Two conflicting reports have emerged from authorities and internal sources regarding how this shooting occurred. According to Prison Media Spokesperson, Commissioner Senaka Pallethenna, the inmate climbed onto a security booth adjacent to the prison wall and attempted to snatch the firearm of the officer on duty there. At that point, the officer fired a shot at the inmate who was attempting to escape.

However, a report citing other prison sources states that security officers first issued warning signals to this inmate, who was attempting to escape from the prison premises, to stop. Those sources further state that when he continued to attempt to escape despite those orders, security officers fired the shot.

The deceased is a resident of Galagedara area, Kandy. In connection with the incident, a magisterial inquiry and a post-mortem examination are scheduled to be held, and concurrently, the police and the Prisons Department have jointly commenced further investigations.

Dumbara Prison, located in the Kandy District, is a secure prison complex that houses a large number of high-profile inmates in the country. However, on several previous occasions, inmates who were on remand or sentenced to imprisonment under various charges had been reported to have escaped from Dumbara Prison as well as its associated open-air prison camp.