SLPP Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa has criticized Sri Lanka's prison system as fundamentally broken, arguing that recent disturbances at Mahara Prison signal institutional failures rather than isolated incidents.

Namal Rajapaksa has used the latest unrest at Mahara Prison to launch a broader critique of Sri Lanka's penal system, characterizing recurring disturbances as evidence of systemic dysfunction. The SLPP parliamentarian pointed out that a second major prison incident within weeks cannot be dismissed as an anomaly, instead reflecting mismanagement, neglect, and a system operating under severe operational strain.

Rajapaksa identified multiple structural problems demanding immediate intervention. These include prison overcrowding, substandard facilities, inadequate healthcare provision, and the absence of effective rehabilitation initiatives. He emphasized that while temporary security increases might restore short-term order, such reactive measures cannot address root causes or prevent future crises.

A particular concern raised by Rajapaksa involves leadership gaps within the Department of Prisons. He questioned why the position of Commissioner General remains unfilled on a permanent basis despite the unfolding crisis, suggesting that leadership vacancies have compounded management difficulties.

Rajapaksa further reframed the purpose of imprisonment, arguing that detention should restrict liberty alone while preserving human dignity. He called on the government to move beyond emergency responses and implement comprehensive, lasting reforms to address what he characterized as clear signs of institutional failure across the prison system.