Prisons property damage: 5 committees assess losses
The Prisons Department has not yet finalized an official estimate of the property damage caused during recent incidents of unrest at five prisons, with five separate committees appointed to assess the losses.When contacted by The Daily Morning, Prisons Commissioner and Department Spokesperson, Senaka Pallethenna said the Department had seen reports about the value of the damage caused to prison property, but that no official figure had yet been completed. “I have also seen reports that damage worth various amounts has been caused to prison property. But, we haven’t yet finalised any official estimates.”
He said that committees are currently assessing the damage at each of the five prisons where incidents had taken place. “The committees are still looking into the property damage. They will finalise their reports and send them to us soon. Separate committees have been appointed for each incident. Officers from the Government Valuation Department are also serving on the committees to assess the value of the damaged property.”
The assessments come after a series of incidents of unrest at prisons in recent months, including the deadly violence at the Negombo Prison, where inmates and Prison officers were killed during a major disturbance. The incident was followed by incidents at the Mahara Prison, the New Magazine Prison (Colombo), the Kuruwita Prison, and the Pallansena Open Prison.
