Measles in three Colombo prisons: inmates kept from court today

Inmates of three Colombo prisons where measles has been detected will not be produced before courts today (November 9), prison officials have informed the courts.

The cases have been identified at the Colombo Remand Prison, Welikada Prison and Magazine Prison. Commissioner of Prisons Senaka Palletenna said the decision was taken as a precaution, that the courts concerned had been informed of the situation, and that prison officials were taking preventive measures to control the spread. Steps would be taken to resume producing inmates before courts soon, he added.

Measles is a contagious disease that spreads easily through breathing; fever, cough, cold and body rashes are its common symptoms. In closed, crowded settings such as prisons it can spread quickly, which is why temporarily halting the movement of inmates outside is a standard containment step.

Prisoners due in court are normally taken under prison escort, and courts are customarily notified in advance when such movement is stopped for health reasons. Cases involving inmates of the three prisons are expected to be postponed today. The prison administration has so far released no further details of the outbreak or the number of inmates affected.

UPDATE: Court transfers from the three prisons were temporarily suspended entirely today, with no inmates produced at the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court, the Colombo High Court or the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court. Written notices explaining the situation have been sent to the courts concerned.