Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara says prison overcrowding may have contributed to the recent unrest at Mahara Prison, but stressed that authorities are investigating whether there was a more organized effort behind the incident.
Speaking on the matter, the Minister said the current information indicates that the clashes were primarily between inmates and the prison administration. However, he said the Government is also looking into whether external parties may have played a role in instigating the violence.
Nanayakkara noted that the Government’s ongoing crackdown on narcotics has significantly reduced the flow of drugs into prisons, suggesting this may have been one of the factors behind the unrest.
He acknowledged that prison overcrowding remains a serious issue, but said it is not the sole reason for such incidents. The Government is working to expand prison capacity and introduce legal reforms to reduce congestion, including speeding up bail procedures for certain drug-related offences and addressing delays in Government Analyst reports.
The Minister said around 23,000 inmates are currently imprisoned over drug-related offences, highlighting that the prison issue cannot be solved through law enforcement alone.
“We can act against the supply of drugs through the law, but we also need to reduce the demand. That requires a broader social response,” he said, adding that drug abuse has become deeply rooted in some communities.
Nanayakkara also revealed that 14 inmates believed to have been involved in the Mahara Prison unrest have been transferred to other prisons.
While those responsible would face disciplinary action, the Minister said authorities are also examining whether there was a coordinated effort from outside the prison to trigger the violence.
“These kinds of incidents have not emerged without reason for a long time. That is why we have asked the relevant authorities to investigate whether there was any organized external involvement,” he said. (Newswire)