Free Lawyers Sri Lanka has called for Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara to resign over his handling of unrest at Mahara Prison, citing systemic failures and the minister's alleged inattention to prison conditions.
A civil society organisation has intensified criticism of the Justice Ministry's leadership following violent disturbances at Mahara Prison. Free Lawyers Sri Lanka issued a statement demanding the resignation of Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara and Secretary to the Ministry Ayesha Jinasena, holding them responsible for what the group characterises as failures to prevent the unrest.
The Mahara Prison incident resulted in at least one confirmed death and six reported injuries, though the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners has suggested actual casualty figures may be higher. The disturbance involved gunfire, fires within prison buildings, and external clashes between security forces and crowds of inmates' relatives and local residents attempting to breach police barriers. Water cannons were deployed and a curfew imposed in the surrounding area.
Free Lawyers argues the incident reflects deeper systemic problems rather than an isolated event. The organisation points to similar deadly unrest at Negombo Prison less than a month earlier, which claimed approximately 30 lives, noting that meaningful reforms were not implemented despite the Justice Minister's initial acceptance of responsibility for those security failures. The group contends the minister subsequently resisted calls for his resignation, and a parliamentary no-confidence motion against him was defeated by the government majority.
The organisation further criticises the minister's recent prioritisation of a constitutional amendment increasing Superior Court judges' retirement ages, which proceeded without consultation with the Bar Association or Judicial Services Association—both of which have opposed the measure. Free Lawyers argues this demonstrates misaligned priorities while prisons remained in crisis. The group has called for an independent investigation, withdrawal of the proposed amendment, and demands that the Human Rights Commission dispatch an immediate team to the facility.
