Mahara Prison riot leaves trail of destruction
by Norman Palihawadane The full extent of the destruction caused by inmates during the Mahara Prison unrest has emerged as authorities began assessing the damage, following the violent incident that left one prisoner dead and several others injured. Although security forces brought the situation under complete control, by around 6 am yesterday, the aftermath revealed […]
A violent prison unrest at Mahara Prison resulted in significant destruction and one death. The incident began when a group of inmates threw stones at relatives outside, prompting inmates to breach a temporary wall under construction. Several hundred inmates, comprising both remand and convicted prisoners, engaged in the unrest, which persisted until early hours of the following morning.
Extensive damage was inflicted upon buildings, equipment, and essential facilities. The kitchen was severely affected, with fire causing destruction to boilers, cooking equipment, and other essentials. A newly constructed administrative building and rehabilitation facilities also suffered considerable damage. The Prison hospital sustained significant harm as well, with authorities noting that a 33-year-old inmate died from his injuries.
The unrest prompted deployment of security forces, including the Police, STF, Army, Navy, and Air Force, to restore order. Following the incident, the Department of Prisons initiated an investigation into the cause of the unrest and plans to appoint a committee to examine all aspects of the incident.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
