One prisoner dies in Sri Lanka after several attempt breakout

One prisoner died in Sri Lanka as prison guards foiled an attempt by several inmates of a breakout, police said. 

Seven prisoners tried to escape from the penitentiary in Mahara on the outskirts of the capital Colombo, the police spokesman's office said, reported AP. 

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It further said that prisoners were confronted by the guards after they scaled down walls, which led to a clash resulting in guards firing in the air. 

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One inmate and two guards were wounded in the incident and later the prisoner succumbed to his injuries in a hospital. 

Sri Lankan prisons are infamous for overcrowding with over 26,000 prisoners locked up in facilities that could accommodate nearly 10,000.

Two inmates were killed and six others injured in March when they fought with guards during a protest against new stringent measures to control the spread of the novel coronavirus in prisons.

Last month, the government temporarily released on bail nearly 3,000 prisoners keeping in mind the COVID-19 outbreak.