STF security to be provided for prisons in Colombo

• There had been a number of incidents of hurling illegal items like phones into prisons over the prison walls in recent times

By Sheain Fernandopulle  

The Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel would be deployed at the entrance of prisons in the Colombo city from next week, the Prisons Department said.   

 “This is to ensure the external security at prisons in and around Colombo and also to get their support when search operations are carried out in prisons,” Prisons Commissioner and spokesman Chandana Ekanayake said   

He said the Ministry of Defence had agreed to provide security upon a request made by the Prisons Department to the ministry over the issue.   
“Accordingly, the security will be provided for four prisons in the Colombo city,’ he said.  

Mr. Ekanayake said there had been a number of incidents of hurling illegal items like phones into prisons over the prison walls in recent times.  
“However, we have been able to minimise illegal substances being brought into prisons, to a certain degree,” he added.