Due to a measles outbreak within the premises, Vavuniya Prison has been compelled to shut down for two weeks.
In response, they’ve suspended visitors’ entry and temporarily halted the release of detainees for legal proceedings.
The overcrowded conditions in the prison are believed to have contributed to the rapid spread of the disease.
Health authorities and PHIs have taken proactive measures by providing vaccinations to both inmates and prison officers.
The prison, which currently houses over 400 detainees and is staffed by 85 officers, is expected to resume normal activities in a few days once the outbreak is contained and managed, according to Chandana Ekanayake, the media spokesman of the Department of Prisons.