The Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel would be deployed at the entrance of prisons in the Colombo city from next week, the Prisons Department said.

 “This is to ensure the external security at prisons in and around Colombo and also to get their support when search operations are carried out in prisons,” Prisons Commissioner and spokesman Chandana Ekanayake said.

He said the Ministry of Defense had agreed to provide security upon a request made by the Prisons Department to the ministry over the issue.  

“Accordingly, the security will be provided for four prisons in the Colombo city,’ he added.

Ekanayake said there had been a number of incidents of throwing illegal items like phones into prisons over the prison walls in recent times.

“However, we have been able to minimize illegal substances being brought in to the prisons to a certain degree. We still need to ensure that prisons are fully protected from every kind of illegal activities,” he added.

STF security has already been provided for the Angunukolapelassa and Boosa prisons.

Meanwhile, 15 prison officers had been interdicted for various offenses like providing facilities for prisoners and helping them to transport drugs. (Sheain Fernandopulle)