At least 25 inmates have been confirmed dead and around 100 others injured following one of the deadliest prison riots in recent Sri Lankan history after violent clashes broke out between rival groups of prisoners at Negombo Prison, authorities said on Monday.
The unrest, which began on Sunday, erupted inside the correctional facility located in the coastal city of Negombo, about 35 kilometres north of Colombo, Sri Lanka’s commercial capital.
According to police and hospital sources cited by Reuters, the violence involved convicted prisoners and inmates being held in pre-trial detention, though the exact cause of the confrontation remains under investigation.
Authorities Struggle to Restore Order
Security forces spent hours attempting to regain control of the prison complex as emergency teams worked to evacuate the wounded and recover the bodies of those killed.
Police officials said several sections of the prison were still being searched on Monday to determine the full scale of the violence and ensure all inmates had been accounted for.
Sri Lanka’s military has also been placed on standby to support police operations if necessary.
Army spokesman Brigadier Waruna Gamage confirmed that while soldiers had not yet entered the prison, the military had received a formal request to assist law enforcement should the situation deteriorate further.
Heavy Security Around Prison
Television footage from local broadcaster Derana TV showed a large deployment of armed police officers surrounding the prison entrance as buses transported injured inmates to nearby hospitals.
Some of the injured prisoners were seen lying on the floors of the buses while emergency responders rushed them for urgent medical treatment.
Cause of Violence Still Unknown
Authorities have yet to determine what triggered the deadly confrontation.
Investigators are examining whether tensions between convicted prisoners and detainees escalated into the violence or if other factors, including overcrowding or prison management issues, played a role.
No prison officials or security personnel have been reported among the fatalities.
The Sri Lankan government has not yet released an official statement detailing the circumstances surrounding the incident or whether an independent investigation will be launched.
The tragedy is expected to renew concerns over prison conditions, overcrowding, and inmate safety within Sri Lanka’s correctional system.
