19 March, 2024

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Mahara Prison Video Shows Jailers Laughing At Unrest, As Desperate Prisoners Protest Overcrowding Amidst Pandemic

Shocking new video has emerged showing scenes of inmate unrest inside the Mahara Prison complex, while jailers jeer and laugh while taping the entire episode.

Audio from the tape depicts jailers and prison officials thriving in the entertainment on the grounds below, as prisoners clash and run wildly around the yard.

“කොට්ට පොර බලනවා වගේ බං” one of the prison officials remarks watching the scenes, referring to the suspended pillow fights traditionally played in villages during the Sinhalese new year festivities.

“They should be allowed to hit each other” another one is heard remarking in the audio.

The video shows inmates clashing with poles and running away from what sources inside the complex said were terribly overcrowded indoor conditions.

Colombo Telegraph learns that the video was shot hours before armed STF troops were sent in to end the protests. The ensuing shooting killed 11 inmates and injured over 100 more. Nine of the inmates killed in gunfire inside the prison had tested positive for the corona virus postmortem, doctors said. Over 120 inmates were admitted to hospital for treatment from gunshot and other injuries, and at least 38 of these inmates had also tested positive for the deadly virus, hospital authorities said.

Inmates at Mahara and other incarceration centres around the island have been engaged in protests about overcrowded facilities that were making Sri Lanka’s prisons a breeding ground for the corona virus. According to Government ministers who responded to questions in Parliament, said more than 1000 prisoners islandwide had contracted COVID-19.

Prisoners rights activists are pleading with authorities to release prisoners arrested for petty crimes or unable to meet bail conditions in order to reduce the pressure on prison facilities and curb the spread of the virus inside jail houses.

Colombo Telegraph learns that while the local media in Sri Lanka has secured a copy of this video, which purports to show unrest by the prisoners which resulted in the troops being called in to use firearms to end the protests, most news organisations broadcast the video without the accompanying audio depicting jailers enjoying the show.

Prison officials have failed to deal with the unrest inside the prison as mandated by law, including issuing warnings by loudspeaker and shooting at the ground or shooting at the legs of prisoners if the unrest is entirely uncontrollable. Instead armed soldiers shot inmates dead, actions, legal experts say, could result in murder charges being brought against the shooters.
Custodial death is a standard part of the criminal justice system in Sri Lanka, with suspects and prisoners regularly being shot dead by police and STF officers amidst prison unrest or “on the way to show a hidden weapons cache”. Perpetrators of these murders have never been brought to justice.

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Latest comments

  • 30
    4

    Gota man

    This island knows you well.
    While you are in charge of the defense of this island no body knows as to why inmates are being killed inside the prisons. Do you know why?

    At Mahara prison on 29 and 30 November, which left at least nine inmates killed and over hundred others injured.

    In addition on 29th June 2012, 32 Tamil Prisoners in the Vavuniya Prison were brutally assaulted and two died.

    On November 9, 2012, the Special Task Force and Army personnel armed with automatic weapons stormed the into the Welikada prison. Their task on the day, they said, was to carry out a raid to quash illegal activities within the prison walls. It eventually led to the massacre of 27 inmates.

    Already 123 Corona victims have been killed by incompetent Army dum asses.
    It’s high time the parliament sent the generals on garden leave, then sent them compulsory retirement notices and then throw them in jail for negligence. These dum asses are still fighting imagined enemy LTTE instead the real enemy Covid 19.

    • 13
      1

      Jail guards displayed Gota s message. Not only in this prison, parliamentary live telecasts prove it well. Stupid people representing SCP et al campaigned for this. A Venezuela is making in srilanka. We did our job well. But punnaku drinking majority never heard us. Now good riddance 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

      • 0
        0

        LM
        You seem to get a kick out of taking a dig at anything that imperialists hate, avoiding getting deep into the matter.
        Now it is Venezuela.
        Tell us what is happening and who is creating a problem there now for two decades.
        *
        BTW
        The US tried everything possible (some of it seemingly legally and most of it absolutely illegally) for a regime change in Venezuela. It has failed miserably and, unable to accept defeat, it is intensifying efforts to hurt the people.
        It failed in Cuba. It is failing in Nicaragua. It is in a mess in Brazil with its fascist partner, now on his way out.
        Why should Venezuela be any different?

    • 13
      1

      Now everyone incl. International community knows it well How Mlechcha Rajapakshes are and how they treat their own people most of all unarmed prisoners. Medamulana genetics would do lot more harm to the people with Pinguththarayas made shut their both ends. Madagoada cheewara Dariya and muruthettiwa meeharaka are now in silent mode. Budu hamuduruwane, ape jathiyata giya kala?????😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

    • 11
      1

      Dear Native, this is Rajapakshe miracles. Mlechchathwaya is ruling. No nothing was heard from prisons during last 4.5 years. Whenever Rajapakshes are in power, also not forgetting that 52 day fake govt, prisons are targeted. Message is clear birds of feathers flock together. Criminal get together by hook or crook. 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

  • 15
    42

    Its heartening to see inmates fighting each other to avoid covid.

    • 11
      2

      “Heartening” ? Sad to me, especially the consequences.
      However, yes, the Jailors have been heartened to the extent of laughing and using bad language.

    • 10
      0

      Let a hope Rajapskse a schiksaal/fate ll be soon and no different that of Gadhafi family in their last days. 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

    • 11
      2

      S. C. Passqual

      “Its heartening to see inmates fighting each other to avoid covid.”

      Did you bet on any particular fighter?
      What are the odds?

      Learn something you Sinhala/Bautha dumb asses, if you don’t treat your people well neighbours and strangers will grope your women folks.

      Go tell your self proclaimed strongman and single handed generals.
      All these b***s carriers are not fit for the job.

      • 9
        1

        Native,
        “Its heartening to see inmates fighting each other to avoid covid.”
        –What do you expect him to say?
        Hypocrisy is ingrained in this breed of “Sinhala Buddhist”. The kind that will not publicly sign an execution order, or eat beef, but will send in the STF to kill drug addicts in prison.

        • 4
          3

          old codger

          What do you think of Tamils who are being elected to various legislatures and local government bodies for example:

          https://vimeo.com/486249531?ref=em-share

          Please listen to the maiden speech:
          2020-12-02 – Address in Reply Debate – Video 40
          Vanushi Sitanjali Walters is a New Zealand lawyer, politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives.

          • 3
            0

            Native,
            I did mention this to our friend Eagle, but he’s sulking.

    • 2
      0

      Reading your comments, it is surprising you have a heart.

    • 3
      0

      S.C.Pasqual. “heartening to see inmates fighting each other to avoid covid”. A “Remarkable” and a “Praiseworthy” analysis. How about taking this “Method” of fighting the “Covid 19” out to the streets and village levels. Can you pl. submit your proposal to the President and his Government. I am sure you will be “Decorated” with an “Honor” like “Desha Mamaka/Hethaishi”. How “Fortunate” we are to have people of your “Intelligence”? Cheers!

    • 0
      0

      SCP
      What is heartening about people hurting each other?
      Would you have loved to see the war not ending in 2009?

  • 10
    0

    This whole Pill story of Dr.Wimal is madeup to cover govt failures. As we know now, there were articles here in CT too, how GR as Def Sec then got togetherwith prison staff in fanning riots in Welisara to get rid of marked inmates.Psychotropic medicines are used only in patients ,who have mental health issues and not in general for all inmates.In fact they help in controlling such violent behaviours (not cause as Dr. Wimal claimed). Why would prison hold such large supplies (21,000), of a specific medicine which is rarely used. Yes, if anti depressent medicines are wrongly prescribed to bipolar patients , it may cause mania, agitation or restlessness but rarely violence as Dr. Wimal claimed. Of course we live in ” land like no other where all the people can be easily fooled all the time “.. In the West such patients with mental health issues receiving Psychotropic medications are usually held seperate in Forensic psych units

  • 12
    1

    This Island Of Terror Relish and Cherish Violence. It is in the “DNA”

    • 0
      2

      N-N
      The DNA of the entire population?
      Is your DNA different?

  • 17
    3

    this government has failed beyond what everyone though possible. Well done you foolish sinhala buddhists, only an ignorant backward people like you could have voted for these murderers and rapists who don’t have anything in the way of an education. What did you ignorant fools think was going to happen if you give the country to individuals you knew were corrupt murderers and rapists !! You lot, you clergy and chief prelates who support such individuals. Absolute Fools !

  • 7
    0

    Sack the prison head of Mahara,not competent enough to do his.dept,enquiries findings waste of money,we already knows the results blame the prisoners,the corrupt head may be transferred and keep his practice.there is no solution it will spread and people will fed up .
    Come to north and see people live with fear with Ava there is no police patrol these groups with roaming free with swords.there is no protection at all.

  • 13
    1

    When GOTA is the Defence Secretary or President, prisons constantly hit the news with unrest or the cold-blooded murder of inmates. WHY ? Because GOTA wants to distract the people from realizing that under his watch the entire country is an open prison.

    • 0
      0

      Ajay
      You have to give due credit to others, especially for the Kalutara Prison riot of December 1997 and the Welikada Prison riot of July 1983

    • 0
      0

      Ajay,
      .
      This is what we well predicted prior to his election.
      :
      Mlechcha Rajapakshe will turn out to be another Duterte in next few months. I have no doubt, that people incl. innocient ones would be slaughted down by them going by DUTERTE s rascal steps taken in that poor Manila.
      :
      See, people today cant stop comparing the manner how RAJAKASHEs killed innocient people in Rathupaswala, Welikada Prison or any other places just because they stood against MR s criminal activities.

  • 3
    0

    Killing in remand may not be contested. Accordingly, it should be included in the new Constitution to make life easy for the Government.

    • 0
      0

      KV
      It is an unwritten clause of many constitutions.
      Check with our neighbours’.

  • 6
    0

    I would have thought that prisoners, being in the same boat would support and care for each other rather than attack each other instead. If they had a grievance or complaint, any aggression should be directed against those who they consider to be their oppressors.

    • 5
      3

      Lasantha Pethiyagoda

      “If they had a grievance or complaint, any aggression should be directed against those who they consider to be their oppressors.”

      The oppressors have support of STF, Police, Army, Navy, Air force, local thugs, Mahasanga of the Saffron Brigade, saffron clad thugs, party, academics, 6.9 million supporters, …. the thieving clan, the media, drug dealers, ….. drones, …. No chance these unarmed captives stand to win.

      The question is what did the Surgeon Generals Kamal and Shavendra do to isolate inmates from each other? Both are still boasting about how they defeated LTTE and on a spending spree, buying unnecessary toys for grown ups drones, the new air force chief has already promised to use his planes to fight Corona.

      In the meantime Sarath Weerasekera is censused with the gap between sovereignty and his racist mind, has already given up on 13A, Provincial Council, Trinco Oil Tank, …. .

      Seriously nobody knows what has happened to the promise of preventing killing cows and importing beef from India for the consumption of unrepentant beef eaters.

      • 3
        2

        Lasantha Pethiyagoda

        Sorry

        In the meantime Sarath Weerasekera is confused with the gap between sovereignty and his racist mind, has already given up on 13A, Provincial Council, Trinco Oil Tank,

    • 0
      0

      LP
      What you say should apply to the whole country.

  • 3
    3

    Lasantha Pethiyagoda
    So you thought they are imprisoned for caring each other, in their outside life? Didn’t they care each other when Sinhala Rapist Army enjoyed the Rebel Tamil girls after tortured to death? It is sad, man, seeing teachers are teaching some subjects, but not understanding the nuance in the saying “Birds of a feather flock together”. Every special species of Lankawe, the Sinhala Intellectuals, wish for either one of the two things: 1).He – She become the king of the land. If that is not happening, 2).A Sinhala Buddhist Extremist Hitler to come as the king. So, all Sinhala Intellectuals honestly believe a correction message to their way of life as a hate speech against Sinhala Buddhism.
    If Religions are opium, Buddhism is Morphine, extracted pure substance. Like the way Point Petro Thurairatnam said in parliament, unless Buddhism is ethnized, it will continue to create violence. That is why Thirunakarasar wiped out Buddhism and Jainism from Tamil Nadu. That is because only great minds can understand preaching the strayed philosophies are the fertile ground for the violence.
    After seeing this episode of the miniseries “Brave hearts inside the Prison Compound”, if a Tamil fails to conceive that going alone is the path for him/her, but reading Veda or Bible, God cannot grant redemption for him/her for his ignorant life.

  • 8
    1

    Think about it, civilians being killed under the Rajapaksa’s is a common occurrence in our history. Whether the sad loss of thousands helpless civilians up North, journalists like Lasantha Wickrematunge, Prageeth Ekneligoda, and many others, poor civilians who protested their contaminated water in Weliweriya, Muslims attacked and killed in their Mosque, or political activists missing and presumed killed, there is no doubt thousands of Sri Lankans have been killed under these scoundrels who pretend they are good Buddhists. The poor prisoners who rioted because of fear and being overcrowded during a pandemic, which ended up in many dead and injured, will NOT give the Rajapaksa’s sleepless nights, you can be sure of it.

    No one can claim that the Rajapaksa supporters were unaware of these crimes, along with their corruption, when they decided to vote for them, wanting more of the same.

  • 0
    0

    SCP, if Duminda AKA “Chokka Malli’ was right now in Mahara Prison, will you feel the same ??

  • 0
    0

    Violence and distruction are the only thing these Sri Lankan Sinhala buddhist goons enjoy and good at. Go on brothers and show your colours. kill, murder, burn and destroy and make the paradise a real paradise. Karma is well and truly caught up. By killing reduce your population so that there will be some peace. Drag the buddhist clergy too into this fight. The overfed pigs are good for the fight.

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