Prisons Commissioner General Thushara Upuldeniya said the inmates of the Watareka prison who came under attack yesterday were deployed not for political work but for construction work.

The Commissioner-General said deploying them for construction work was part of their rehabilitation program and they were released at the request of three private sector companies.

However, the Commissioner said, they came under attack while being transported in buses under the supervision of prison officials. He said the prisoners were misidentified by some groups as SLPP supporters.

The Commissioner-General said 58 workers who were released for construction work yesterday were still missing and urged the public to cooperate with the police in locating them.