| Welikada Prison | |
| Map Type: | Sri Lanka Colombo Central |
| Building Type: | Prison |
| Client: | British Government, Sri Lankan Government |
| Location Town: | Welikada, Colombo |
| Location Country: | Sri Lanka |
| Coordinates: | 6.9219°N 79.8803°W |
| Start Date: | 1841 |
| Completion Date: | 1841 |
The Welikada Prison (Sinhala; Sinhalese: වැලිකඩ බන්ධනාගාරය; also known as the Magazine Prison) is a maximum-security prison and the largest prison in Sri Lanka. It was built in 1841 by the British colonial government under Governor Campbell. The prison covers an area of 48acres. It is overcrowded with about 1700 detainees exceeding the actual number that could be accommodated. The prison also has a gallows (unused since 1959) and its own hospital. The prison is administered by the Department of Prisons.
Following the attempted military coup in 1962, the arrested military and police officers were remanded pending trial in a special section at Welikada prison called the Magazine Section. To guard these officers, a special security detachment called the composite guard was selected from the Ceylon Light Infantry, with Major A Hulangamuwa in charge.
See main article: 2012 Welikada prison riot. In November 2012, 27 people died in clashes between inmates and prison guards.[1]
It is proposed to relocate the prison to Horana by 2024. The existing complex will be opened for investments.[2]
The world's first prison Scout Group registered by Imperial Scout Headquarters started at Welikada Prison in 1926.[3]