Expressing concern over the death of prisoners, both convicts and suspects, as well as correctional officers, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Marc-André Franche has emphasised that ensuring that protection is a fundamental responsibility of the State.

Twenty prisoners and seven correctional officers were killed in clashes on Sunday and Monday. Over 100 received injuries.

Issuing a statement, the United Nations extended its condolences to the families affected by the tragedy and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

Underscoring prison officials carried out challenging duties in service of the State, and the general public, the UN Resident Coordinator said that their loss was deeply felt. The UN also stressed that inmates who died, or were injured, were under the care and protection of the State, emphasising that both correctional officers and prisoners require greater protection. Ensuring that protection is a fundamental responsibility of the State, he said.

The UN statement highlighted the urgent need for continued investment and reform within Sri Lanka’s prison system.

It pointed to longstanding challenges, including overcrowding, outdated practices and poor conditions in detention facilities, which remain concerns in prison systems both in Sri Lanka and globally.

The UN said Sri Lanka’s engagement with international human rights standards, relating to the treatment, safety and wellbeing of persons deprived of liberty, provides an important framework for addressing these issues.

The United Nations welcomed the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the prison violence and emphasised that the committee’s findings should lead to concrete and lasting improvements in detention conditions.

The UN also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Sri Lanka through technical cooperation aimed at improving prison security, strengthening detention conditions, and supporting the welfare of correctional personnel.

The government was considering imposing restrictions or a possible ban on social media access for children under 16, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya told Parliament yesterday (8).

Responding to a question raised by SJB Gampaha District MP Harshana Rajakaruna, the Prime Minister said discussions with relevant stakeholders were currently underway to assess the impact of social media use on children and explore measures to ensure their safety.

She said the consultations, led by the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, were focussed on the social, mental and health effects of excessive social media use, digital security concerns and global developments in regulating online platforms.

The Prime Minister said the National Child Protection Authority and the National Childcare and Protection Society were also engaged in discussions on the proposal, while steps were being taken to draft national guidelines on restricting access to social media platforms for children below 16 years.

She added that awareness programmes would also be introduced to safeguard children’s mental and physical wellbeing in an increasingly digital environment.

According to the Prime Minister, several government institutions, including the Ministries of Women and Child Affairs, Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Health, Mass Media and Digital Economy, along with the Sri Lanka Police, Department of Probation and Child Care Services and the National Child Protection Authority, were collaborating on the initiative.

The PM said the government, together with World Vision, was implementing a programme aimed at addressing mobile phone addiction among children under 18, which had already shown positive results.

Prime Minister Amarasuriya said the government’s focus was to strike a balance between protecting children from potential online harms and ensuring they benefit from digital opportunities.

Brandix has strengthened critical healthcare services for the people of Mirigama and surrounding areas with the donation of an Electrocardiogram (ECG) machine to the emergency care unit of the Mirigama Base Hospital.

Prior to this donation, the lack of an ECG machine had severely constrained operations at the hospital. Patients and local residents were frequently forced to travel great distances and incur high costs to obtain this vital diagnostic test.

Following the intervention by Brandix, hospital authorities noted that the Mirigama Base Hospital can now significantly enhance its critical care services, leading to speedier treatment and saved lives.

Brandix, Sri Lanka’s premier apparel solutions provider, has been a leading proponent of the country’s healthcare sector for over two decades. The company also stands as Sri Lanka’s largest corporate blood donor for 14 consecutive years, consistently empowering lives and communities island-wide.

Nirmal Perera, Senior General Manager of ESG and Compliance at Brandix, stated that the company has long cared for its associates and communities through meaningful programmes designed to enhance social, health, and education services under its Model Village Programme. He added that the contribution to the Mirigama Base Hospital is yet another extension of this commitment to enriching lives and healthcare delivery across the Gampaha district.