By Dr. Sarath Obeysekera

The recent prison riots at Negombo and Mahara have once again exposed the deep structural weaknesses of Sri Lanka’s prison system. Lives have been lost, public property destroyed, prison officers attacked, and the confidence of the public shaken. These are not isolated incidents; they are symptoms of a prison system that has long exceeded its capacity and is struggling to maintain order. 

It is time to move beyond temporary solutions and adopt bold, long-term reforms.

One such reform is the relocation of ageing urban prisons, beginning with the historic Welikada Prison, and the development of a modern correctional complex on a large site such as the proposed 900-acre Horana prison complex, implemented through a carefully structured Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

The letter issued by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) in March 2026 regarding the redevelopment of the Welikada Prison land demonstrates that the concept of relocating the prison and redeveloping the valuable urban land has already been considered by the Government. The UDA also indicated its willingness to facilitate foreign investment and long-term development partnerships for such projects.

Valuable Urban Land Should Serve the Nation

Welikada Prison occupies one of the most valuable pieces of land in Colombo.

Instead of housing ageing prison buildings, this land could accommodate:

• Mixed commercial developments
• Residential complexes
• Public parks
• Government institutions
• Convention facilities
• Hotels
• Healthcare and educational facilities

The economic value generated from redeveloping such prime land could finance much of the country’s prison modernisation programme.

This would be a classic example of unlocking dormant state assets for national development.

Build a Modern Correctional City

Rather than constructing another conventional prison, Sri Lanka should establish a modern correctional city at Horana or another suitable location.

Such a facility should include:

• Separate prisons for remand and convicted prisoners
• Maximum, medium and minimum security facilities
• Rehabilitation centres
• Vocational training institutes
• Drug rehabilitation units
• Agricultural farms
• Manufacturing workshops
• Renewable energy generation
• Modern hospitals
• Digital surveillance systems
• AI-assisted security monitoring

The objective should not merely be incarceration but rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

Consider Private Sector Participation

Many countries have utilised private sector expertise in prison construction, maintenance, logistics, catering, healthcare and vocational training through PPP models.

Sri Lanka should carefully study international experiences—not simply copy them—and determine where private participation can improve efficiency while ensuring that government retains responsibility for sentencing, security oversight, legal authority and protection of prisoners’ rights. Different countries have had mixed results with privately managed prisons, so any model adopted in Sri Lanka would require strong regulation, transparent contracts and independent oversight. 

Private participation could extend to:

• Design
• Construction
• Facility management
• Food services
• Medical services
• Prison industries
• Vocational education
• Maintenance
• Renewable energy systems

The State would continue to control law enforcement, judicial decisions and prison governance.

Learn from Recent Tragedies

The Negombo and Mahara riots have highlighted chronic problems including overcrowding, staffing shortages, gang violence and contraband entering prisons. Authorities report that Sri Lanka’s prisons hold roughly four times their intended capacity, creating conditions that are extremely difficult to manage safely. 

These tragedies should become the catalyst for comprehensive reform rather than isolated emergency responses.

Rehabilitation Should Replace Warehousing

Prisons should not become universities of crime.

Every inmate should have access to:

• Welding
• Steel fabrication
• Carpentry
• Agriculture
• IT
• Vehicle maintenance
• Electrical work
• Plumbing
• Food processing
• Entrepreneurship

When released, prisoners should possess employable skills rather than returning to crime.

A National Development Opportunity

This proposal is not simply about prisons.

It is about:

• Urban renewal
• Foreign direct investment
• Public-private partnerships
• Rehabilitation
• Job creation
• Construction industry growth
• Better public safety
• Efficient utilisation of valuable state land

The redevelopment of Welikada could become one of the largest urban regeneration projects undertaken in Sri Lanka.

A Bold Decision is Needed

Sri Lanka has repeatedly shown that postponing difficult decisions only increases future costs.

The country now has an opportunity to rethink its correctional philosophy.

Relocating major prisons from city centres, developing a modern correctional complex through a well-regulated PPP, and redeveloping valuable urban land could transform both the justice system and Colombo’s urban landscape.

The recent prison riots should not merely be remembered as tragic events.

They should become the turning point that finally leads Sri Lanka towards a safer, more humane and more efficient correctional system for the twenty-first century.

Regards

Dr Sarath Obeysekera