The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, the reply is as follows:

¶ 02 (a) (i) Yes. (ii) Originally initiated for use by Muslim worshipping prison officers of Malay origin, over time the facility came to be used extensively by outsiders. Currently, Muslim worship by officers is conducted at a mosque within the Mahara Prison premises.

¶ 03 Further: - A building on Department of Prisons land was illegally registered without the Department’s approval. - Access to the mosque was via the main road entering the prison and also from another unauthorized point. From the main gate, one must travel about 300 metres parallel to the southern boundary wall to reach the mosque site. (General layout is in Annex 1.) - Outsiders walking along this route—purporting to go to the mosque—could throw mobile phones, narcotics and other contraband over the wall into the prison, posing a security threat. - Additionally, during funerals or marriages of Muslim devotees, gatherings occur there; especially on Fridays, large crowds assemble, creating a threat to prison security. - The distance from the mosque to the main perimeter wall is about 50 feet, posing a security risk. - A single quarters residence for an officer is located only about 10 feet from the mosque. - Water and electricity bills are paid by the Mahara Prison Accounts Division.

¶ 04 Given the proximity to the prison and to staff quarters, the then Commissioner General of Prisons informed on 2013.02.04 that permission could not be granted to continue the mosque due to the serious security risk (Annex 2). Subsequently, the Superintendent of Mahara Prison notified the mosque management in March 2013 to hand over the land with the mosque to the State (Annex 3). No action was taken by the mosque management.

¶ 05 In view of the then-prevailing environment, the Additional Commissioner General of Prisons, by letter dated 2019.04.25, ordered that outsiders be prohibited from using prison-owned internal roads (Annex 4). On 2019.05.16, the then Superintendent of Mahara Prison reported that unidentified outside groups were being allowed into the premises under the pretext of religious activities at the mosque set aside for Muslim officers and inmates, posing an unnecessary security risk; he requested that entry of outsiders to the mosque within the prison premises be completely stopped (Annex 5).

¶ 06 Mahara Prison houses over 2,000 high-risk inmates—condemned prisoners, organized criminals (IRCs), major drug traffickers and suspects of serious crimes. Despite continued requests from various quarters to reopen the mosque to outsiders, on 2019.09.12 the then Superintendent reported that doing so would create an unacceptable level of danger (Annex 6). On 2020.07.08, the Commissioner General of Prisons informed the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Justice that reopening the mosque to outsiders would pose a severe security threat; therefore, it should not be reopened (Annex 7).

¶ 07 Annexes 1–7 are tabled.

¶ 08 (iii) If the old site is reopened, the above risks would arise. However, the Deputy Minister of National Integration, Hon. Muneer Moulana Moulafar, has already inspected the location and discussed with mosque representatives. We are in discussions with the Department of Prisons. There is another plot of about five perches within Prisons Department land. A suitable site has been identified that would not create access difficulties or security threats. We have informed the mosque management, through Hon. Moulafar, to make a formal request. Thereafter, we will consider allocating the alternative site.

¶ 09 Due to security, the old mosque cannot be reopened; discussions on an alternative are ongoing.

¶ 10 (b) Not applicable.