Minister reveals the secrets and origins of the Mahara clash

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara stated today (04) in Parliament that the recent volatile situation at Mahara Prison was not merely a clash between inmates, but an organized act of sabotage and arson carried out with the aim of incapacitating its administrative authority. Making a special statement in Parliament, the Minister mentioned that inmates had set fire to and damaged several main offices including the prison kitchen, cafeteria, hospital unit, and the Chief Jailor's office.

The Minister emphasized that there was a specific objective behind this unprecedented incident, and it clearly demonstrated an attempt to cripple the prison's administration. According to the information presented, the unrest began on August 01 when three inmates climbed onto the prison roof and engaged in a protest. After approximately 15 minutes of unsuccessful negotiations, nearly 1,000 more inmates joined them, causing the situation to become uncontrollable.

As inmates threw stones towards the main entrance, authorities had to use tear gas and rubber bullets to control the situation. By then, several units within the prison had already been destroyed, and by August 02, the Police Special Task Force and prison officials managed to bring the situation under control and return the inmates to their cells. During this violent incident, one inmate died and eight others were injured and hospitalized, while no prison officials were harmed.

The Minister pointed out that while the previous unrest at Negombo Prison was a clash among inmates, the Mahara incident was directly against the administration. He questioned how such a large number of inmates could be organized simultaneously, suspecting external influence. The Minister further stated that if there were conspirators who acted with the aim of incapacitating the Mahara Prison, legal action would be taken against them regardless of their status, and that the situation is now completely under control, with necessary steps being taken to prevent such incidents from spreading to other prisons.