Commissioner of Prisons and Media Spokesman, Gamini B. Dissanayake, disclosed that an additional eight inmates, who fell ill at Matara prison, were hospitalized on the night of December 23rd. This development brings the total number of inmates currently receiving treatment at Matara Hospital to 16, with one inmate reported dead on Saturday after being admitted to the hospital.
Dissanayake specified that two of the hospitalized inmates remain under treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Matara Hospital. The ordeal began on Friday (December 22nd) when a group of inmates at Matara Prison was hospitalized due to high fever, prompting the implementation of precautionary measures within the prison to curb potential virus spread.
Tragically, on Saturday, an inmate succumbed to an illness presumed to be brain fever. The deceased had been convicted of murder on August 30th and was serving a prison sentence.
In response to the situation, all new inmates scheduled to serve sentences at Matara Prison will be redirected to Angunakolapelessa Prison, following directives from the Commissioner General of Prisons. Despite December 24th and 25th being declared special days for visiting prisoners, defense authorities announced plans to limit visitation permissions at Matara Prison due to the health crisis.
Given the upcoming Christmas Day, health authorities at the Department of Prisons are reportedly taking special care in the process of releasing prisoners. Additionally, several other inmates with fever symptoms are still housed at Matara Prison, and steps are expected to be taken to hospitalize them promptly, according to prison officials.
