Mahara Prison
| Mahara Prison | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Town or city | Mahara |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Construction started | 1875 |
| Completed | 1875 |
| Client |
British Government, Sri Lankan Government |
The Mahara Prison is a maximum security prison, and is one of the largest prisons in Sri Lanka. Situated in the old city of Mahara in the Western Province, it was built in 1875 by the British colonial government to ease the congestion at the Slave Island prison. It was used to house the prisoners employed in crushing stones at the Mahara quarry. Since its establishment, it has had a police post attached to it. The prison is administrated by the Department of Prisons.
Famous inmates
- Utuwankande Sura Saradiel - bandit turned Freedom fighter, the Robin Hood of Sri Lanka
- Maradankadawala Yakadaya
- Navarian alias Fancis Fernando
- Cutex Piyadasa
- Keragala Siresana alias cheena
- Watareka Jayasundara
- Gampaha Munidasa
1902 prison break
In the annals of the Mahara Prison lies evidence of a revolt at the quarry and an escape by 79 inmates around 2.00 pm on June 28, 1902. Prison officers on guard were assaulted, and the revolver of the Deputy Jailor was seized by the riot leader. An army team, headed by Major Bishop and assisted by the Jailor, was able to take into custody 40 escapees from the neighborhood. This was the first and the biggest ever escape in the annals of the Sri Lanka Prisons.