Issuing a statement the Police Media Director SP Jaliya Senaratne said, “In trying to prevent them from escaping a clash had resulted between the inmates and the prison guards. 

During this incident, eight prisoners were injured when the prison guards had opened fire to prevent the prisoners from escaping.”

He noted that the injured prisoners were admitted to the Anuradhapura Hospital and two of them have succumbed to their injures. The other six prisoners are currently being treated
at the Anuradhapura Hospital under the security of the Prison guards. The bodies of the deceased inmates are lying at the Anuradhapura Hospital Mortuary.

According to the Police Media Director, additional Police security has been deployed at the Anuradhapura Prison with the assistance of the STF. The Anuradhapura Police is
currently conducting further investigations into the incident.