Twenty-five people were killed and approximately 100 others injured as security forces struggled to contain two days of clashes between rival inmate groups at a prison in Negombo, Sri Lanka, authorities reported on Monday. The violence marks the deadliest prison riot in the country in years.
Clashes Erupt Between Convicted and Detained Prisoners
The clashes began on Sunday between long-term convicted prisoners and those under temporary detention at the prison in Negombo, a coastal town about 35 km (20 miles) north of Colombo, the commercial capital. The facility holds approximately 2,400 inmates, according to data from the Department of Prisons.
On Sunday, two prisoners died and 38 were injured. However, a second and more deadly round of clashes erupted on Monday morning, leaving 23 additional people dead, including six prison officials.
Riot Control and Emergency Response
Police riot control squads armed with batons and special forces were deployed to the prison to quell the riot. A police bus transported injured inmates to the hospital, some lying on the floor of the vehicle. Areas within the prison were still being cleared, officials said.
Dozens of people, including relatives of inmates, gathered outside the prison and were held back by a police cordon. The Sri Lanka Air Force provided a helicopter and several drones to monitor the situation from above.
Breakfast Time Brawl Triggers Violence
“The fight broke out when the prisoners were being served breakfast,” Chamika Gajanayake, media spokesman for the Department of Prisons, told reporters near the prison. “Prison officials intervened to stop the clash but the prisoners then chased the officials to the gate of the prison and attempted to break out.”
Gajanayake linked the cause of the violence to drug trafficking but declined to provide further details, citing an ongoing investigation.
Hospital Overwhelmed with Injured
“About 100 injured people were brought to this hospital. Some had gunshot injuries, cuts and bruises,” Dr. Pushpa Gamlath, Director of the Negombo Hospital, told Reuters. She added that 18 of the injured had been transferred to a different hospital.
Army spokesman Brigadier Waruna Gamage confirmed that the military had been requested to provide support to police but remained on standby. At dusk, dozens of military personnel, some in armored vehicles, moved into position around the prison, according to a Reuters witness.
Justice Minister Expresses Condolences
After visiting the prison, Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. “I know that some weapons fell into the hands of the prisoners but at the moment I don’t know the exact number,” he said. “The entire prison is now under our control and we are conducting investigations. I wish to express my condolences to the families.”
History of Prison Violence in Sri Lanka
Previous prison violence includes a riot in November 2020 that left 11 inmates dead, and a prison riot in 2012 in Colombo that left 27 dead. The latest incident is the deadliest in recent memory, underscoring ongoing challenges within the prison system.
