Colombo (News 1st); 19 mobile phones including three smartphones were discovered buried in the premises of the Colombo Remand Prison.

Commissioner (Administration) of the Department of Prisons Chandana Ekanayake speaking to News 1st said the discovery was made during a special search on Monday (24) morning.

The phones were wrapped in a plastic bag and buried in a manner it would go undetected, said the Prisons Commissioner.

Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya speaking to News 1st said considering the number of raids conducted over the past few months around 1500 mobile phones, 1600 batteries, 600 mobile phone chargers and 200 grams of heroin were seized.

He said the raids will continue at prisons across the country.

As there are strict restrictions on visitations, there is a rising trend of tossing small parcels into prisons over prison walls, said the Commissioner-General.

Corrupt officers in the Department of Prisons have been removed and transfers have also been given to some officers, said Thushara Upuldeniya.

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