Mahara prison riot: Families await details of incarcerated relatives

COLOMBO (News 1st): Families of prisoners held at the Mahara Prison were seen outside the Mahara Prison premises on Thursday (03) again, demanding authorities to release details of the prisoners. According to our reporters, individuals were escorted into the prison premises from time to time in order to identify the dead from Sunday's riots. Commissioner-General of Prison Thushara Upuldeniya urged the families to remain calm and guaranteed the prisoners are safe in the prison. He said prisoners will be permitted to have telephone conversations with their relatives and families of the dead were notified of the passing of prisoners. Medical personnel claimed the prisoners were using a certain pill, and the matter is being investigated, he said.