The media had reported that the inmates were using drugs to treat mental illness, which was the cause of the riots in Mahara Prison. It was first stated by Minister Wimal Weerawansa. That was in Parliament on the 30th. Later in the evening, Senior DIG in charge of the Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon had stated this.
This was stated by the police media spokesman as well as the prison officials. They further stated that these inmates had taken 21,000 anti-depressant pills in the prison. It was also stated that it was suspected that the doctor of the prison hospital was involved in this.
But the Sri Lanka Psychiatrists’ Association has issued a statement turning all their statements into nonsense.
That is, no medication used for mental illness can cause aggression. The Sri Lanka Association of Psychiatrists has issued a statement explaining that this statement of the government is creating a wrong attitude among the people regarding mental illness and related treatments.