Sri Lanka deploys troops to quell deadly prison riots

Sri Lankan authorities deployed hundreds of soldiers and elite commandos on Sunday to quell riots at the Mahara prison, near the capital Colombo. The unrest resulted in the death of one inmate and left six others injured, according to police.

Prison officials stated that the situation is now under control after inmates caused significant destruction on Saturday. "We received reinforcements from the armed forces and commandos from the special unit to restore order and get the prisoners back to their cells," said Deputy Police Chief Sanjeewa Medawatte to reporters outside the facility.

The rioting inmates completely destroyed the prison's kitchen, hospital, a recently constructed rehabilitation building, and vocational training facilities. This incident follows a similar riot in November 2020 at the same facility, where 11 prisoners were shot dead and nearly 120 others were injured.

Mahara prison is severely overcrowded, housing approximately 4,100 individuals, which is about four times its intended capacity. This issue is prevalent throughout Sri Lanka's prison system. In response to the ongoing crisis, authorities announced plans last month to convert unused state buildings into prisons.

These latest riots occurred less than a month after a separate prison uprising in the same region resulted in the deaths of 10 guards and 21 inmates. More than three-quarters of Sri Lanka's prison population consists of remand prisoners awaiting trial, with the majority detained on drug-related charges.

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We received reinforcements from the armed forces and commandos from the special unit to restore order and get the prisoners back to their cells.