Defence Ministry Secretary Major General(retd) Kamal Gunaratne says that the unrest at the Mahara Prison has been brought under control.

Speaking at a meeting of the Consultative Committee on the Ministry of National Security, Gunaratne has assured that all issues including the security of the inmates and prison guards at the Mahara Prison will be fully resolved.

The Police, the Police Special Task Force (STF) and the prison authorities conducted a “successful operation” to control the unrest at the Mahara Prison and the administration of the prison was handed over to the prison authorities by yesterday (01) afternoon, the Defence Ministry Secretary said.

Eleven inmates were killed in clashes at the Mahara Prison on the 29th. Eight of them tested positive for COVID19 at the post-mortem inquiry, authorities at the Ragama Hospital said.

Another 105 detainees were injured and 81 of them are being treated at the Ragama Hospital, police said.

Twenty four inmates who were treated at the Ragama Hospital have been admitted to the Prison Hospital for treatment.

A spokesman for the Ragama Hospital said that 38 of the injured detainees have been identified as COVID19.