Eight more inmates, who fell ill at the Matara prison, were hospitalized last night (Dec. 23), said Commissioner of Prisons and Media Spokesman Gamini B. Dissanayake.

Accordingly, a total of 16 inmates of the Matara prison currently receive treatment at the Matara Hospital, while another inmate was reported dead on Saturday, after being admitted to the hospital. 

Dissanayake mentioned that two of them are still receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Matara Hospital.

On Friday (Dec. 22), a group of inmates at the Matara Prison was reported to have been hospitalized after falling ill. 

Accordingly, eight inmates were admitted to the hospital due to high fever. In response, several precautionary measures were implemented within the prison to control the potential spread of the virus, the Media Spokesman of the Department of Prisons assured.

Later on Saturday, an inmate was reported to have succumbed to an illness, which was presumed to be brain fever. The inmate had been convicted of murder on 30 August, and imprisoned.

Meanwhile it was reported that as a preventive step, all new inmates slated to serve their sentences at Matara Prison would be redirected to Angunakolapelessa Prison, following directives from the Commissioner General of Prisons.

Against this backdrop, the defence authorities pointed out that although December 24 and 25 were been declared as special days for visiting prisoners, steps will be taken to limit the permission granted to visit the inmates at Matara Prison.

The health authorities of the Department of Prisons have reportedly decided to take special care in the process of releasing prisoners in view of Christmas Day.

Furthermore, it is reported that several other inmates with fever are still staying in the Matara prison. The prison officials stated that steps will be taken to hospitalize the relevant inmates today (Dec. 24).