• Police monitoring all major prisons

Security has been strengthened at prisons across the country following the unrest at the Mahara Prison on 1 August, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Sajeewa Medawatta said.

Speaking to the media after inspecting the situation at Mahara Prison yesterday (2), he said special attention had been directed towards the security of prisons including Welikada, Magazine, Kalutara and Negombo.

He said the disturbance that broke out on 1 August had created a highly tense situation that continued until the early hours of yesterday.

Medawatta also said that many inmates had damaged prison property during the unrest.

However, he said the combined efforts of the Department of Prisons, Police, Special Task Force, Sri Lanka Air Force and Sri Lanka Navy had enabled authorities to bring the situation under control by yesterday morning.

He added that steps would be taken over the next few hours to further strengthen security and restore normal operations at the prison.