Restaurant staff clad as prison officers, prisoners among proposals submitted

Following the removal of the Old Bogambara Prison, setting up a special restaurant to get an idea of ​​prison life will be one of the projects in the premises in addition to the museum, the Prisons Department said.

The staff members of the restaurant will be dressed as prison officers and prisoners and the structure of the restaurant will be set up as a prison cell. It is also proposed to design the place to attract both locals and foreigners.

In addition to the museum and the restaurant, a study centre and a shop selling products made by prisoners will also be set up.

The Old Bogambara Prison is a historical place and its main building and fort wall are also designated as World Heritage Sites.

The Prison Department said that the following the removal of the Prison, the site is being developed by the Urban Development Authority.

Bogambara Prison was established by the British in 1876.

The Prisons Department has proposed to construct a prison museum in one part of the Bogambara Prison for the first time in Sri Lanka, as it is a very important place in the history of prisons.

Accordingly, the public will be able to see the historical significance of this place including the evolution of the Sri Lankan prison system and  the history of prisoners.

The project proposal on establishing prison museum was handed over to the State Minister of Prison Management and Prison Rehabilitation Lohan Ratwatte by Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya. (Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)