• Rights group queries accountability for perpetrators in 2012 and 2020 prisoner deaths  

The Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) stated that it is unfortunate that no successive Government has come forward to hold those responsible for the deaths of inmates at the Welikada and Mahara Prisons, accountable.

Speaking at this year’s Prisoners’ Justice Day event yesterday (11), CPRP President, attorney Senaka Perera said that while 27 inmates were killed in the 2012 Welikada Prison incident, and 11 in the 2020 Mahara Prison incident, no one has been found guilty in either case.

“The perpetrators have not been identified yet. They didn’t come from another world and shoot. The problem here is that the previous Governments and the current Government didn’t stand up for justice. There was one related case and it was also withdrawn. We have now filed a case in the upper courts regarding this.”

The Welikada Prison incident took place on 9 and 10 November 2012, when clashes broke out between inmates and the Special Task Force during a search operation inside the high-security Prison. Gunfire and riots erupted, leading to the deaths of 27 inmates. The incident drew serious condemnation and calls for an independent investigation into the use of lethal force.

The Mahara Prison incident occurred on 29 and 30 November 2020, amid growing tensions in prisons due to overcrowding and fears of Covid-19 infections. Violence broke out following protests by inmates demanding better health measures and testing. The unrest left 11 inmates dead and over 100 injured.