SLPP National Organizer Namal Rajapaksa has raised alarm over repeated prison disturbances at Mahara, characterizing them as symptoms of deeper institutional problems rather than standalone events.

Following another disturbance at Mahara Prison, SLPP National Organizer and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa has warned that the incident represents part of a broader crisis affecting Sri Lanka's prison system. Describing it as the second major disturbance in recent weeks, Rajapaksa questioned the human toll of the unrest and rejected characterizations of such events as isolated occurrences.

Rajapaksa attributed the recurring problems to what he termed poor management, inadequate leadership, and institutional strain within the Department of Prisons. He specifically questioned why the position of Commissioner General for the Department of Prisons remains unfilled, arguing that the absence of permanent leadership at this critical level has hampered the department's ability to address mounting challenges.

The MP identified multiple underlying issues requiring urgent attention, including prison overcrowding, inadequate facilities, insufficient healthcare services, and the lack of rehabilitation programmes. He argued that while deploying additional security personnel might contain immediate tensions, such measures would not address root causes. According to Rajapaksa, reforms must focus on preserving human dignity within the prison system rather than merely restricting liberty through incarceration.

Rajapaksa called for the government to move beyond temporary crisis management approaches and implement comprehensive long-term reforms to address what he characterized as clear signs of systemic institutional failure. His statement underscores growing political scrutiny of the prison administration's capacity to manage the sector effectively.