Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara has issued an Extraordinary Gazette establishing a new prison facility at Mahamodara, Galle.
The new facility will be named the 'Mahamodara Prison' and will hold jurisdiction covering the entirety of Sri Lanka.
The move comes in the immediate aftermath of violence at the Negombo Prison, which killed 27 people following a clash between two rival groups — an incident that once again highlighted the severe overcrowding in Sri Lanka's prison system.
Context
The clash broke out between two groups of prisoners allegedly involved in organized crime and drug trafficking.
The initial weekend unrest spilled over into Monday, resulting in the deaths of 20 prisoners and seven prison officers, with over 100 others treated for injuries.
The government has launched multiple inquiries into the incident.
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara stated that the government will introduce sweeping prison reforms to directly address overcrowding.
Overcrowding
The total number of inmates within the country’s prison system has surged to 41,000, almost four times its capacity of 11,000, Minister of Media Nalinda Jayatissa said on Tuesday.
This number has increased significantly due to ongoing nationwide drug eradication operations and subsequent arrests made while enforcing the law.
This marks a sharp escalation from September 2024, when the prison population stood at around 28,000, Jayatissa added.
The Minister also noted that delays in obtaining Government Analyst reports have slowed down bail hearings and general court proceedings, with the government currently facing recruitment challenges within the department.
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