Heartwarming Gesture: Inmates Across 10 Sri Lankan Prisons Donate Meals to Cyclone Victims
By Lions Roar News Sri Lanka Bureau
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (January 13, 2026) — In a moving display of solidarity, inmates from ten major prisons across Sri Lanka have stepped forward to support those devastated by Cyclone Ditva. The Department of Prisons announced on Monday that thousands of detainees have voluntarily chosen to skip their meals to donate the food to citizens in disaster-hit regions.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of the storm, this act of self-sacrifice from behind bars has touched the hearts of many, highlighting a unified national spirit during times of crisis.
🍱 A Nationwide Effort
The initiative involves a diverse range of correctional facilities, spanning from the capital to the northern and southern tips of the island. According to official reports, inmates from the following institutions participated in the donation:
- Colombo & Surrounds: Welikada Prison, New Magazine Prison, and Mahara Prison.
- Central & South: Bogambara Prison (Kandy), Matara Prison, and Angunukolapelessa Prison.
- North & East: Jaffna Prison and Batticaloa Prison.
- Uva & Sabaragamuwa: Monaragala Prison and Kuruwita Prison.
🛡️ Department of Prisons Response
The Department of Prisons noted that the decision came from the inmates themselves, who expressed a desire to contribute to the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” efforts currently being spearheaded by the government.
By skipping their allocated meal rations, the department is able to redirect the equivalent food supplies or funds to relief centers providing cooked meals and dry rations to thousands of displaced families currently residing in temporary shelters.
📍 Context: Cyclone Ditva
Cyclone Ditva recently swept across the island, causing significant damage to infrastructure and displacing tens of thousands. The government has since launched a massive recovery operation, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today initiating the national rebuilding program.
