Inmates’ plan was to sabotage smooth functioning of prison operations: Minister

Colombo, July 6 (Daily Mirror) - The prison inmates have smashed the body scanner worth millions of rupees and CCTV systems in the Negombo prison, Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara said today.

After visiting the prison, the Minister told reporters that some inmates had resorted to violence as they wanted to sabotage the smooth functioning of the prison operations.

He said if the inmates had other disputes, they would not have smashed the body scanner and the CCTV systems in the offices inside the premises.

"We have taken stern action to prevent drugs and other illegal contraband from entering the prisons. The inmates wanted to stop this. The motive of the inmates is clear now. They wanted to sabotage the smooth functioning of the prison operations," he said.

The Minister said some inmates who are behind the the clash will be transferred to the Welikada and Angunakolapelessa prisons.