Negombo Prison, Sri Lanka – A two‑day eruption of violence at the coastal town’s prison has left 26 people dead, including 7 guards, and more than 100 wounded.
Incidents began on Sunday when rival inmate factions fought over a drug‑trafficking informant, racing men to grab armed guards. Later the same day, groups of male prisoners and women from an adjoining unit climbed onto rooftops demanding release.
Flashy gunfire echoed inside the walls when inmates tried to breach the gates on Monday. The roof of part of the facility collapsed during the melee, injuring several female inmates.
Police deployed the military, and several wounded were taken to Negombo Hospital while the seriously injured were transferred to Colombo National Hospital. Total casualties are 23 officers and 54 inmates still receiving treatment.
Prisons commissioner AC Gajanayake confirmed that affected areas are still being cleared and that inmates are being transferred to other prisons. Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has ordered an investigation and a report to be submitted to the government.
With 41,250 inmates—almost four times the prison’s capacity—Sri Lanka’s overcrowded facilities were already at risk of further unrest, making these riots among the worst in recent history. In December 2020, another prison riot left 11 dead and 117 injured.
