Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara told Parliament today (04) that the recent unrest at Mahara Prison bore clear signs of sabotage and arson, raising suspicions of an organized attempt to cripple the facility’s administration.
Making a special statement in Parliament, the Justice Minister said the incident went beyond a typical inmate clash, noting that prisoners deliberately set fire to the kitchen, cafeteria, infirmary, and offices, including the main jailor’s office.
“This shows they had a clear intention. This has never happened before. It is evident that there was an organized attempt to sabotage the administration of the Mahara Prison,” he stated.
According to the timeline presented, the unrest began on August 1 when three inmates staged a protest on the prison roof. After 15 minutes of failed negotiations, around 1,000 other inmates joined them, escalating the situation into a full‑scale riot. Prisoners pelted stones at the main entrance, forcing officials to deploy rubber bullets and tear gas.
By then, several units inside the prison had been destroyed. On August 2, Police Special Task Force (STF) and prison officials managed to contain the situation and return inmates to their cells. One prisoner was reported dead, while eight others were injured and hospitalized. No prison officials were killed or injured.
Minister Nanayakkara contrasted the Mahara incident with the recent Negombo Prison riot, stressing that while Negombo involved clashes between inmates, Mahara was in a direct confrontation with the administration. He questioned how such a large number of inmates could mobilize simultaneously, suggesting possible external influence.
“The intention was to make the Mahara Prison inoperational. We are investigating this. If there are any conspirators, we will take necessary action against them,” he said.
The Minister confirmed that the situation at Mahara Prison has been fully contained and that preventive measures are being discussed to ensure similar incidents do not spread to other prisons. (Newswire)
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