Welikada Prison


The Welikada Prison is a maximum security prison and is the largest prison in Sri Lanka. It was built in 1841 by the British colonial government under Governor Cameron. The prison covers an area of. It is over-crowded with about 1700 detainees exceeding the actual member that could be accommodated. The prison also has a gallows and has its own hospital too. The prison is administrated by the Department of Prisons.
Following the attempted military coup in 1962, the arrested military and police officers were remanded pending trial in a special section at Welikada prison called the Magazine Section. A special security detachment was selected, called the composite guard, to guard these officers from the Ceylon Light Infantry, with Major A Hulangamuwa in charge.
In November 2012, 27 people died in clashes between inmates and prison guards.

Core functions

The world's first prison Scout Group registered by Imperial Scout Headquarters started at Welikada Prison in 1926.