The Attorney General has withdrawn the case related to the deaths of 11 inmates at Mahara Prison during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Attorney General, it was concluded following a comprehensive investigation that the police Special Task Force officers had acted lawfully to protect both officers and inmates during the incident. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that officers had not exceeded their right to personal safety, as established under law. Consequently, the Attorney General indicated that no further legal action would be necessary, and the case would be closed.
The incident occurred on November 29, 2020, when a group of inmates at Mahara Prison staged a protest, demanding PCR tests to confirm if they had been infected with the COVID-19 virus and seeking medical treatment for those affected. The protest escalated into violence, leading prison officers to initially use tear gas and rubber bullets in an attempt to control the situation. However, as the situation worsened, live ammunition was used, with officers shooting below the knees of inmates, as they claim.
After a three-year investigation into the deaths, the Magistrate of Welisara, Thushitha Dhammika Uduwavidana, ruled that the 11 deaths were homicides and ordered the arrest and presentation of all involved prison officers before the court.
Magistrate Uduwavidana further noted that the use of firearms during the operation did not seem to be a humane response aimed at controlling the riot. Instead, the manner in which the victims were shot, especially given that the wounds were located on their heads, chests, and abdomens, raised doubts about whether prison officers had fired deliberately to disperse the unruly inmates. The fact that shots were not limited to the lower limbs as initially claimed pointed to potential issues in the use of force by the officers.
Ajith Perakum Jayasinghe
