Prison inmates were allowed to have one visitor per week since Wednesday (1), the Department of Prisons revealed. “Following the health guidelines, we are to limit the amount of visitors and the number of days an inmate is granted a visit from one person recognised as his closest family. The visitors are to follow the health guidelines by wearing face masks, washing hands, and maintaining physical distancing when entering the visiting area. Furthermore, they are not allowed to bring any food and can only purchase toiletries and sanitary items for the inmates as required,” Department of Prisons Commissioner General Thushara Upuldeniya told The Morning. In the event an inmate undergoes quarantine, they will not be allowed to have visitors until their quarantine period ends, Upuldeniya added. Prior to the pandemic, inmates were allowed to have visitors on a daily basis, limited to one visit per day from a maximum of two persons, with visiting allowed from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., except for Sundays and public holidays. With the lockdown announced on 17 March and curfew imposed, the Department of Prisons too had to shut its doors for visitors, involuntarily violating the rights of prisoners as they were not even allowed to make a call to their homes. On 21 March, a tense situation erupted at the Anuradhapura Prison due to the restrictions that were imposed on visits, which threatened the food supply of the inmates. The incident caused injuries to three inmates and the death of another, who at the time of admission to the Anuradhapura General Hospital was pronounced dead.