Security forces used live fire and tear gas to control a disturbance at Kuruwita Prison that resulted in two inmate deaths and multiple injuries, according to the Justice Minister.
Authorities at Kuruwita Prison deployed live ammunition and tear gas on Friday to suppress an outbreak of unrest among inmates, resulting in two deaths and leaving at least a dozen others injured, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara stated.
The disturbance began Thursday night and reignited Friday morning after initial control measures appeared successful. According to prison officials, the renewed violence included damage to the prison hospital. The minister characterized the use of force as a necessary response to restore order, describing it as the minimum force required under the circumstances.
Security operations involved coordinated deployment of police, the Special Task Force, and military personnel to contain the situation. The injured inmates were transferred to hospitals for treatment. This incident follows similar unrest reported a day earlier at Magazine Prison in Borella, where authorities managed to control a tense situation involving approximately 40 inmates without reported fatalities.
