Prison riots point to sabotage, conspiracy: Wijepala tells Parliament
by Saman Indrajith ✍️ Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala yesterday told Parliament that the recent unrest, reported at several prisons across Sri Lanka, appeared to be organised acts of sabotage and part of a possible conspiracy, based on the pattern and timing of the incidents. Making a special statement in Parliament, the Minister said disturbances […]
Minister Ananda Wijepala addressed the Sri Lankan Parliament, revealing a series of prison disturbances across the nation. These incidents, he suggested, appeared to be premeditated acts of sabotage and possibly part of a larger conspiracy, based on the frequency and timing of the occurrences. Specific prisons where unrest was reported included Negombo, Mahara, Magazine, Kuruwita, and Pallansena.
Preliminary investigations indicated narcotics-related activities and underworld connections as the primary triggers for some of the incidents. Wijepala informed the Parliament that the government had implemented measures to regain control over the situations while prioritizing the safety of inmates. Security forces were tasked with preventing loss of life during operations to restore order.
At Magazine Prison, approximately 40 inmates managed to escape from a ward around 10:15 pm on Thursday. Prison officials, aided by the Special Task Force (STF), managed to restore order. Tragically, one inmate died during the incident, while ten others received medical attention at the National Hospital. In Kuruwita Prison, two inmates were killed around 6:30 am the following day, and thirteen others sustained injuries that required treatment at Ratnapura Teaching Hospital.
Ongoing investigations were underway to determine the circumstances surrounding these disturbances, including possible connections between the incidents at various prisons. At Pallansena Prison, around thirty inmates climbed onto the roof of a prison ward after breakfast and refused to return inside. Police and prison officials worked to regain control of the situation.
Wijepala reiterated that the government's primary concern was maintaining law and order within prisons, while safeguarding the lives of inmates and prison staff. He assured the Parliament that the situation at Pallansena Prison would also be brought under control soon. The government pledged to remain vigilant and take necessary steps to prevent further incidents.
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.
