The unrest that erupted inside the Mahara Prison has now been brought under complete control, following a large-scale security operation involving the Police, the Special Task Force, and all three armed forces.
Authorities have begun restoring normalcy, but the extent of the destruction inside the prison complex highlights the severity of the incident.
The disturbance began at around 4:30 p.m. yesterday and continued until this morning, involving nearly 4,000 inmates, including both remand and convicted prisoners.
While order has now been restored, officials say the unrest initially spread beyond the prison walls, prompting the deployment of additional security forces to regain control.
Exclusive footage obtained by News 1st reveals widespread destruction throughout the prison. Several wards and cells have been severely damaged, with doors, fittings, and prison equipment destroyed during the violence.
A newly constructed administrative building has also sustained damage, while rehabilitation facilities used for inmate training programmes have been extensively vandalized. Workshops supporting vocational training have been affected, with valuable equipment either damaged or destroyed.
One of the hardest-hit areas is the prison kitchen, which was completely destroyed after being set on fire. Boilers, cooking equipment, and other essential facilities were reduced to ashes. Authorities say furnace oil was used during the arson attack, intensifying the damage.
The prison hospital also suffered significant destruction, disrupting a vital facility responsible for providing medical care to inmates.
The incident claimed the life of one inmate, while several others sustained injuries and were admitted to hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, the Committee for the Protection of Prisoners' Rights has attributed the unrest to severe overcrowding at the Mahara Prison.
Addressing the media, the committee's chairman, Senaka Perera, stated that the prison, which has an official capacity of just 991 inmates, is currently housing 4,447 prisoners.
He said the available infrastructure and facilities are grossly inadequate to accommodate such a large inmate population, resulting in deteriorating living conditions that have contributed to growing tensions within the prison.
Authorities have launched investigations into the incident, while efforts are underway to assess the full extent of the damage and restore essential prison operations.
