Unrest reported at Welikada, Kuruwita and Pallansena prisons

09-Aug-2026

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Three prisoners have died following clashes and unrest among inmates at Welikada, Kuruwita and Pallansena prisons over the past two days, Commissioner General of Prisons and Media Spokesperson A.C. Gajanayake said.

More than 50 prisoners injured during the clashes have been admitted to the Welikada Prison Hospital and the Ratnapura Hospital for treatment.

Following incidents of unrest at prisons in different parts of the country within a short period, police, military personnel and riot-control units have been deployed to the affected prisons, with security subsequently strengthened.

At Magazine Prison, unrest broke out on August 7, 2026, following a clash between two groups of inmates. Eleven prisoners injured in the incident, which occurred close to midnight, were admitted to the prison hospital for treatment.

The clash reportedly occurred among inmates housed in E Ward after a prison officer seized a small package that had allegedly been thrown into the prison premises from outside. Around 40 inmates subsequently broke open the doors of their ward and came out.

Police, the Police Special Task Force, the armed forces, the Air Force and riot-control units were deployed to bring the situation under control and strengthen security at the prison. The inmates were subsequently taken back to their respective ward by prison officials.

Commissioner General of Prisons and Media Spokesperson A.C. Gajanayake said that by yesterday morning, the prison premises had been brought under the complete control of security personnel.

The Air Force also deployed drones to monitor the prison premises during the incident.

One prisoner who had been receiving treatment for serious injuries later died. Prison officials said the prisoner died at around 6.30 a.m. yesterday. He was reportedly a member of the group led by an individual known as Kos Malli.

Following the clashes, the prison administration also took steps to transfer nine prisoners held at the facility to another prison. Prison property and other facilities were reportedly damaged during the clashes, although details of the damage have not yet been released.

Visits by relatives to prisoners were temporarily suspended yesterday as a security measure. A large number of local residents had gathered outside the prison during the unrest, while water-cannon vehicles were also deployed and kept on standby.

Meanwhile, unrest was also reported at Kuruwita Prison.

Although the situation was initially brought under control with the intervention of prison officials, another incident occurred at around 7 a.m. yesterday when several prisoners who had come to the prison kitchen reportedly attacked those present, claiming that they were engaged in a hunger strike.

A clash subsequently broke out between the two groups. Prison officials reportedly came outside the prison premises while maintaining security to prevent prisoners from escaping.

When prisoners broke open the prison gates and attempted to flee, security personnel reportedly opened fire, resulting in the deaths of two individuals.

The deceased have been identified as 44-year-old Prabath Manjula Samarasinghe of Paradise, Kuruwita, and 38-year-old Vadivel of Puwakpitiya, Avissawella.

As the situation intensified, prisoners reportedly attacked and damaged the prison hospital.

Police, the Police Special Task Force and armed personnel from the three armed forces were deployed to the prison yesterday. Tear gas was used and security personnel also fired several rounds into the air to control the situation.

After considerable efforts, authorities brought the prison under complete control.

Two prisoners who were injured during the unrest subsequently died, while another 17 injured prisoners were admitted to the Ratnapura Hospital for treatment.

At the Pallansena Open Prison, inmates climbed onto the roofs of prison buildings and staged a protest against the prison administration. They later moved towards the main entrance of the prison and continued their protest.

The prison walls were damaged, and the inmates reportedly threw pieces of concrete outside the prison premises.

Police, the Police Special Task Force, military personnel, riot-control units and the Air Force were deployed in large numbers to prevent the situation from escalating. After several hours, the prison was brought under the control of security personnel and normal prison operations were restored. Tear gas was also used to control the inmates.

Twenty-eight prisoners injured in the clashes were admitted to the Welikada Prison Hospital.

The prisoners are reportedly protesting over overcrowding and inadequate sanitary facilities at the prisons, and demanding that their pending cases be concluded expeditiously.

In the afternoon on August 7, the unrest at all three prisons had been brought under control and prison operations had been restored under the Department of Prisons.

The injured prisoners continue to receive treatment at hospitals.

Last month, following a two-day clash at Negombo Prison, prisoners there had been transferred to Pallansena, Welikada and Kuruwita prisons.

The Commissioner General of Prisons said investigations had commenced into the latest incidents of unrest.