Welikada Prison

The Welikada Prison (also known as the Magazine 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 and area of 48 acres (190,000 m2). It is over-crowded with about 1700 detainees exceeding the actual member that could be accommodated. The prison also has a gallows (although not used since 1959) and has its own hospital too. The prison is administrated by the Department of Prisons.

Notable inmates;
D S Senanayake - National hero, independence activist and first prime minister of Ceylon.

F R Senanayake - National hero and independence activist.

Captain Henry Pedris - National hero and martyr of the independence movement.

Anagarika Dharmapala - National hero, independence activist and leading figure of the Buddhist revival.

Colonel F. C. de Saram - A leader of the attempted military corp of 1962
Bombardier Gratien Fernando - Leader of the Cocos islands mutiny.

Douglas Devananda - Tamil politician and a cabinet minister.

Suresh Perera - former Sri Lankan cricketer.

Sepala Ekanayake - Airline hijacker.

Sarath Fonseka - Former Commander of the Army and Chief of Defence.

Staff who led the army for a win against the LTTE.

Selvarajah Yogachandran - also known as Kuttimani was one of the leaders of former Tamil militant organization TELO,Murderd at Welikada prison massacre.

Nadarajah Thangathurai - one of the leaders of former Tamil militant. organization TELO,Murderd at Welikada prison massacre.