A deadly prison riot in Sri Lanka has left 26 people dead and over 100 injured after clashes between inmates escalated into gunfire, rooftop protests, and a security crackdown, exposing the severe overcrowding and deep-rooted problems within the country’s prison system.
Riots at a prison in western Sri Lanka have killed 26 people, including seven prison guards, while more than 100 others were injured after two days of violent unrest at Negombo Prison, a coastal facility north of the capital, Colombo.
The violence began with clashes between rival groups of inmates, reportedly sparked by a dispute over an inmate accused of informing authorities about a drug trafficking operation inside the prison.
Authorities said prisoners allegedly seized firearms from prison officers on Sunday, resulting in the first fatalities and dozens of injuries. As tensions escalated, groups of male inmates and women from a neighbouring prison unit climbed onto rooftops, demanding their release.
Fresh violence erupted on Monday when inmates attempted to force their way through the prison gates. Security forces were deployed to regain control, with multiple gunshots heard inside the facility during the operation.
Officials confirmed that 26 people were killed, including seven prison officers, while a total of 77 people 23 prison officers and 54 inmates remain hospitalised for treatment.
SEE ALSO: Former U.S. Olympian Faces 10 Years in Prison Over Reflecting Pool “Vandalism”
Doctors at Negombo Hospital said many of the injured suffered gunshot wounds, cuts and severe bruises, while some were transferred to the National Hospital in Colombo for further medical care.
Police also reported that part of the prison’s roof collapsed during the unrest, injuring several female inmates who had joined the rooftop protest.
Outside the prison, anxious relatives gathered seeking information about loved ones, with many telling local media they had received no official confirmation on whether family members were safe, injured or among the dead.
Security forces continue clearing sections of the prison, while the military has been placed on standby following a request from police. Prison authorities have also begun transferring inmates to other correctional facilities to restore order.
Justice and Prisons Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has ordered a full investigation into the incident and directed officials to submit a comprehensive report.
The riot has renewed attention on Sri Lanka’s overcrowded prison system. According to officials, the country’s prisons housed about 41,250 inmates as of Sunday, roughly four times their intended capacity.
Although prison disturbances occur periodically in Sri Lanka, this is the country’s deadliest prison riot in years. In December 2020, a separate prison riot left 11 people dead and 117 injured.
