An organized conspiracy behind the prison disturbances

Intelligence agencies have uncovered information that a large organized conspiracy is operating behind the clashes and unrest that occurred in several prisons across the island. Days after intelligence agencies revealed that riots could erupt in five prisons in the country, simultaneous unrest has occurred in Colombo Magazine, Kuruwita, and Negombo Pallansena prisons.

Due to this unrest, three inmates have died, and a large number of others have been hospitalized with serious injuries.

Unrest first began between two groups of inmates at Colombo Magazine Prison when prison officials took into custody a parcel of heroin thrown over the prison wall by some individuals. More than 40 inmates, including associates of the organized crime gang member "Kosmallie," broke out of a cell, threatened officials, and attempted to exit through the prison gate. During the subsequent intense altercation, a 35-year-old inmate named Mohamed Asman Sheriffdeen, a resident of Katuwana, Homagama, died due to the assaults. He was a contract killer for "Homagama Handaya" and was accused of several crimes, including double murders on Wattarappala Road, Galle, and in Negombo. Later in the morning, inmates again behaved riotously, damaging prison buildings, and 10 injured inmates from these incidents were admitted to the Colombo National Hospital and the prison hospital. The authorities have also taken steps to transfer a group of key inmates involved in the incident to other prisons.

Meanwhile, severe unrest also erupted among inmates at Kuruwita Prison, where enraged inmates attacked and severely damaged the hospital and several buildings. The clash originated from a protest by over a thousand inmates transferred from Negombo Prison to Kuruwita Prison, who claimed inadequate facilities. To control the situation, prison officials and the police used tear gas and fired shots, resulting in two of the 15 injured inmates later dying, while the condition of three others is reported to be critical.

At Negombo Pallansena Prison, unrest also broke out over a drug dispute when inmates were taken out of their cells for breakfast. A group of inmates climbed onto the prison roof to protest and later came near the gate, starting to behave riotously. The Police, Special Task Force, Riot Control Unit, and Air Force jointly controlled the situation by firing tear gas, and 28 injured inmates were admitted to Welikada Prison Hospital.

Previously, clashes at Negombo Prison resulted in 31 people, including 10 prison officials, being injured, and clashes at Mahara Prison left two inmates dead and 21 injured. In light of the current situation, a special security program is being implemented under the leadership of Inspector General of Police, Attorney Priyantha Weerasooriya, and security has been provided to prisons across the country, stated Minister Harshana Nanayakkara. Furthermore, during a special discussion chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, it was decided that prison officials, the Police, the Special Task Force, and the Tri-Forces would jointly establish a combined security mechanism in the coming week.