Prisons Commissioner (Administration) Chandana Ekanayake today said that some of the drugs in the hospital’s drug store at the Mahara Prison premises had been used by rioters.
Speaking at a press conference today (December 1), he further stressed that many properties inside the prison have been damaged by the rioters.
Speaking at the press conference, Police Media Spokesman, DIG Ajith Rohana had stated that the remand detainees had been charged with drug possession.
He also said that there were about 21,000 anti-depressant and sedative pills in the drug store, which had been used by the inmates and that some of the inmates who were currently injured and hospitalized were behaving in a confusing manner, according to media reports.
He has further stated that an investigation is to be carried out as to why such a large number of pills were brought to the prison hospital.
Ragama Hospital Deputy Director Dr. Sarath Premasiri says that 108 people, including two prison officers, are currently being treated at the hospital.
Dr. Sarath Premasiri further stated that 38 of the inmates who have been admitted to the hospital have been diagnosed with coronavirus infection.