HRCSL probes Mahara Prison unrest as multiple investigations continue

Glocal
By Editor_1
Sri Lankan Army personnel patrol outside the riot-hit Mahara Prison on the outskirts of Colombo on Sunday (August 2, 2026) -Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP

COLOMBO – The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has launched a special investigation into the violent unrest at Mahara Prison, deploying a three-member team to the facility as authorities continue parallel inquiries into the incident that left one inmate dead and 10 others injured.

The unrest broke out on Saturday (Aug 1), prompting a large-scale security response involving police, Special Task Force (STF) commandos, military personnel and riot control units. Authorities said the situation was brought under control by around 6.00 a.m. on Sunday (2).

The Department of Prisons confirmed that one inmate was killed and 10 others were injured, with the injured currently receiving treatment at the Ragama Teaching Hospital.

During the disturbance, inmates caused extensive damage to prison infrastructure, including buildings and key facilities. Authorities estimate the losses exceed Rs 150 million.

The HRCSL said its team visited the prison on Sunday to conduct on-site inquiries, while representatives of international human rights organizations also inspected the facility to assess post-incident conditions.

An implementation officer with a rights organization, said the scale of destruction raised concerns over whether the incident may have been premeditated.

He noted that several facilities had been rendered unusable and questioned whether the damage could have been caused by a small group of inmates acting alone.

“The extent of the damage suggests this could not have been carried out by a handful of inmates confined to a single area. Investigations must determine whether this was solely the result of inmate unrest or whether other factors were involved,” he said.

Police said forensic officers are continuing examinations at the prison, while a magisterial inquiry was conducted on Sunday. The Department of Prisons has also launched its own investigation.

In response to the unrest, 104 inmates have been transferred to prisons in Dumbara, Welikada, Boossa, Kalutara, Badulla, Batticaloa and Polonnaruwa. Inmate visits have been suspended for three days from Monday to facilitate repair work.

The incident has renewed scrutiny of Sri Lanka’s overcrowded prison system. Mahara Prison currently houses around 4,100 inmates, nearly four times its intended capacity.

The unrest comes less than a month after a deadly riot at Negombo Prison that left 10 prison officers and 21 inmates dead, intensifying calls for urgent prison reforms.

Authorities have previously announced plans to convert unused state buildings into correctional facilities to ease overcrowding, though implementation is still pending.

-ENCL

Editor_1
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