Sri Lanka Tightens Prison Security After Mahara Riot Leaves One Dead

COLOMBO, Aug. 2 — Sri Lanka has tightened security across its prison system following a riot at Mahara Prison that left one person dead and six others injured, as authorities confront a growing crisis of severe overcrowding in the country’s jails.

The unrest erupted on Saturday at Mahara Prison, located about 15 km (9.3 miles) from the commercial capital Colombo. Prisoners damaged several buildings inside the complex, including the hospital, training centre and kitchen.

Police sources said the riot began during family visiting hours, when inmates climbed onto prison rooftops, set fire to a building and burned documents stored in administrative offices.

The prison was holding around 4,100 inmates — roughly four times its intended capacity. The situation reflects a broader problem across Sri Lanka’s prison system, which holds more than 41,000 convicted prisoners in 22 facilities designed to accommodate only about 11,000 people.

Thousands of additional remand prisoners, who have not been convicted of a crime, are also held in the country’s jails.

Authorities have responded by strengthening security at major prisons, particularly facilities around Colombo and the nearby city of Negombo.

“Attention has been paid to increasing security at all major prisons, particularly the ones close to Colombo, including the Negombo prison,” Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Sajeewa Medawatta told reporters on Sunday.

Medawatta said prisoners had been moved to holding cells and provided with food and water after police, military and other security personnel intervened to bring the situation under control.

The latest violence comes less than a month after a deadly clash at a prison in Negombo, about 35 km (22 miles) north of Colombo. Ten prison officials and 20 prisoners were killed during two days of fighting between rival groups of inmates in early July, making it Sri Lanka’s worst prison violence since 2012.

Police special forces, military personnel and the navy were deployed during that confrontation to restore order.

During Saturday’s riot at Mahara, the air force deployed a helicopter and drones to monitor the prison complex. Dozens of people, including relatives of inmates, gathered outside the facility and were held back by a police cordon.

Authorities imposed a police curfew Saturday night in three nearby villages to disperse crowds and prevent further unrest. The restrictions were lifted by midday Sunday.

The incidents have renewed concerns over conditions in Sri Lanka’s overcrowded prisons, where the number of inmates far exceeds the capacity of existing facilities. The government now faces pressure to strengthen prison security while addressing the underlying problems of overcrowding and the large number of people held on remand.