January 13, Colombo (LNW): The government has announced that compensation will be provided to the families of the inmates who tragically lost their lives following a tree branch collapse at Matara Prison on 01 January.
Prisons Spokesperson, Gamini B. Dissanayake, confirmed that the victims’ families will receive Rs. 250,000 for each deceased inmate, in recognition of their loss.
In addition to the fatalities, the incident resulted in ten other prisoners sustaining injuries, some of which required hospitalisation at the Matara Hospital.
Thankfully, all those injured have since been treated and have returned to the prison.
The tragic event occurred when a large branch of a tree fell onto the prison’s premises, causing significant damage. Two buildings within the prison compound were affected by the incident, with one of them already having undergone repairs.
The refurbishment of the second building is expected to be completed soon, ensuring that the facilities are restored to a safe condition.
In response to the incident, the authorities have also arranged for the transfer of 55 inmates to the Angunakolapelessa Prison, as part of measures to ease overcrowding and maintain the security of the prison system.
