Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre

Did You Know?

• The military's involvement at the centre has been a topic of controversy among human rights activists.
• Several clashes and inmate breakouts have been reported, including the November 2022 clashes, the December 2023 escape, and the January 2024 clash and breakout.

History

In March 2020, the Government of Sri Lanka proposed the centre as a major quarantine site for PCR testing of foreign passengers and tourists. The government mandated a 14-day self-quarantine for all foreign arrivals at the centre. The Sri Lankan Army, with the Ministry of Health, upgraded the facility with medical tools, WiFi, thermometers, laundry, and entertainment. In July 2020, the centre became a new epicentre of the pandemic, recording over 300 cases. On 9 July 2020, the Army converted a nearby quarantine centre into a COVID-19 hospital.

COVID-19 cluster

On 7 July 2020, a new case was recorded at Welikada Prison involving an inmate transferred from the Kandakadu centre on 27 June. On 9 July, 253 inmates at the centre tested positive for COVID-19. The next day, the total reached 283 positive cases. The centre emerged as a new COVID-19 cluster in Sri Lanka.