Authorities have regained control of both Kuruwita Prison and Pallansena Open-Air Correctional Centre after disturbances erupted on the morning of July 7th, resulting in two inmate deaths and multiple hospitalizations.
The Prisons Department announced that order has been fully restored at Kuruwita Prison and the Pallansena Open-Air Correctional Centre in Dalupotha, Negombo, following simultaneous incidents that occurred on the morning of July 7th. The department confirmed that both facilities are now operating under its complete authority.
The unrest at Kuruwita Prison resulted in two inmate fatalities, while thirteen others required hospital admission in the aftermath of the incident. A separate disturbance at Pallansena Prison escalated to a point where authorities deployed tear gas to suppress the situation and restore order.
Response to the incidents involved significant security deployment across multiple agencies. The Police Riot Control Unit, Special Task Force, Sri Lanka Army, and Air Force were mobilized to assist Prisons Department personnel in bringing both facilities under control. Following the restoration of order, the Prisons Department indicated that security protocols at both prisons have been strengthened to prevent similar occurrences.
The simultaneous nature of the disturbances at the two separate correctional facilities marks a significant incident within Sri Lanka's prison system, though the underlying causes of the unrest have not been detailed by authorities.
