Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara has announced that immediate steps will be taken to relocate the Matara Prison to the Kotawila area, citing severe overcrowding and inadequate facilities at the current site.
The Minister made this announcement during an inspection visit to the Matara Prison on Friday (7), where he observed several critical shortcomings affecting both inmates and prison staff. A special discussion was held following the visit to address these pressing concerns.
“There is insufficient space at the current premises to operate a fully functional prison,” the Minister stated.
“As a result, prison officers, staff, and inmates are experiencing considerable difficulties. We have discussed moving the facility to Kotawila as an urgent solution.”
According to Minister Nanayakkara, land has already been allocated in Kotawila, where the new Matara Court Complex is also located, paving the way for a more efficient judicial and correctional infrastructure.
He also noted that the Matara Prison sustained damages during the recent unrest, and the extent of these damages was reviewed during the inspection.
