Inmate dies after Magazine Prison unrest
UPDATE – 10:35 AM: One inmate who was hospitalized after being injured during the unrest at the Magazine Prison has died.
A total of 11 inmates were hospitalized with injuries following the unrest that broke out last night (August 6), and one of them has since died.
UPDATE – 09:30 AM:
Eleven inmates were injured and admitted to hospital following the unrest that broke out at the Magazine Prison last night (August 6), Prisons Department Media Spokesman A.C. Gajanayake said.
He said the situation has now been brought under control and that steps have been taken to transfer nine inmates to other prisons.
Gajanayake said the Police, Police Special Task Force (STF), and the Tri-Forces have been deployed to provide security at the prison. He added that their assistance was also used to bring the unrest under control.
He further said that investigations into the incident are underway.
Meanwhile, prison authorities have suspended inmate visits at the Magazine Prison today due to the unrest.
UPDATE – 07:27 AM:
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara says the unrest at the Magazine Prison in Colombo has been completely brought under control, with around ten inmates suspected of involvement set to be transferred to other prisons.
The unrest reportedly began after a prison officer took possession of a small parcel that had been thrown into the prison over the boundary wall last night (August 6).
Following this, a group of inmates began behaving violently, and more than 40 inmates later broke the locks of a prison cell and came out.
Prison officers, Police and officers of the Police Special Task Force (STF) worked together to bring the situation under control and return the inmates to their cells.
Meanwhile, members of the three Armed Forces have been deployed to strengthen security within the prison premises and the surrounding area.
Sri Lanka Air Force drones have also been used to monitor the situation and support security operations at the prison.