Justice Minister to change management at Kandakadu Rehab Centre

The management of the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre where fresh clashes broke out on Friday (12) between inmates is to be changed, Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha said.

He said that he has called for a report within the next two days about the incident as well as the recent clashes there.

The clashes broke out over a dispute over lunch.

However, reports from the rehabilitation centre said that the centre is already overcrowded with more drug addicts arrested during the ‘Yukthiya’ operation being referred to the centre.

Commissioner General Rehabilitation Major General Dharshana Hettirachachi told the Sunday Times that the clashes erupted with the recently admitted drug addicts turning violent episodes due to drug withdrawal syndrome,

He explained that the initial clash which sparked Friday January 12, occurred as a result of drug addicts who come from different areas forming gangs and fighting each other.

He added that the clash broke out during a meal time where the drug addicts were harassing each other and behaving in an unruly manner, while the drug addicts were clashing, around 90 inmates too had escaped the camp.

“These addicts have been taking drugs for 15 to 20 years, therefore the addicts have a difficult first few days without drugs, therefore frequent violent outbursts against old inmates and staff at the center occur,” he added.

However over 62 inmates of those who escaped have been located by the police and the people in the area.

By Sunday morning, a search was still on for about 20 inmates.

Meanwhile 24 members sustained injuries due to the Friday’s clash and had been admitted to hospital.

Police, special task force and the military personnel have been deployed to control the situation, but fresh clashes broke out Saturday (13) morning.