Sri Lanka prison riot kills 26, wounds more than 100

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A violent riot at Negombo Prison in Sri Lanka has left at least 28 people dead and more than 100 injured, in one of the country's deadliest prison disturbances in years. The clashes, which began on Sunday evening and escalated into Monday, were triggered by fighting between rival drug gangs, according to police and prison officials. The death toll rose over several days as more victims succumbed to injuries, with the final count reaching 28, according to reports from South China Morning Post and The Hindu — World.

Coverage comparison

Initial reports from ABC Australia, Africa News, Dawn, and South China Morning Post put the death toll at 23, with some sources specifying that four prison guards were among the dead, while others reported six. Later updates from The Guardian — World and a subsequent South China Morning Post article raised the toll to 26 and then 27, with seven guards confirmed dead. The Hindu — World reported the toll climbing to 27 and then 28, citing official sources, with seven prison officials and 19 inmates among the dead, later revised to eight prison officers and 20 inmates.

The discrepancy in guard fatality counts — ranging from four to eight — reflects the evolving nature of the toll as more bodies were identified. The final figure of 28 deaths, including eight prison officers, was reported by The Hindu — World, citing Colombo-based official sources.

All sources agree that more than 100 people were injured, with many suffering gunshot wounds, cuts, and severe bruises. Hospital director Pushpa Gamlath told AFP that 23 bodies were initially brought to Negombo Hospital, with more than 100 wounded inmates and guards admitted. Eighteen of the most seriously wounded were transferred to the Colombo National Hospital.

Key claims

The riot began on Sunday evening at Negombo Prison, which houses several thousand inmates, and escalated into an attempted jailbreak on Monday morning. Prison spokesman Chaminda Gajanayake said inmates attacked guards during breakfast and made a dash for the main gate, but were held back. Police said the rival gangs overpowered guards, seized their weapons, and opened fire. Inmates also smashed a CCTV camera during the chaos, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara told parliament.

As reports of the fighting spread, women inmates in an adjoining section climbed onto a roof demanding their release. A section of the roof collapsed, injuring several women, according to police.

Following the riots, authorities transferred hundreds of inmates to other prisons across the island for their safety. The Hindu — World reported that nearly 1,200 prisoners from Negombo were moved, including some Indian nationals. Three inmates were transferred to the Pallansena Prison Camp, and a known criminal, Katuwellegoda Suresh, was moved to the high-security Boossa prison.

An Indian national, identified as Unnikrishnan S., aged 73, was among those killed, The Hindu — World reported, citing official sources. The victim, from Kerala but who had lived in Chennai for over four decades, died in the clashes. The High Commission of India in Colombo is in touch with Sri Lankan authorities and the family of the Indian inmate, sources told The Hindu — World. A note verbale was sent to Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, though neither government has officially commented on the death.

The Sri Lankan government has announced a three-member committee, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, to investigate the incident and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence. Justice Minister Nanayakkara told parliament that a criminal investigation is also underway. A magisterial inquiry was conducted on Sunday.

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka said it was informed that several inmates had been transferred to other prison facilities, including Angunakolapelessa, Boosa, Batticaloa, Dumbara, Jaffna, and Welikada, to ensure their safety and separate them from other inmates.

The riot has also highlighted chronic overcrowding in Sri Lankan prisons. Africa News reported that jails are holding more than 41,000 inmates, around four times their intended capacity. According to the 2024 Auditor General's Report, as of December 31, 2024, the country's prisons housed 28,278 inmates against an approved capacity of 10,395, operating at nearly thrice their capacity, The Hindu — World reported.

Perspectives

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, a former judge, expressed "profound shock and grief" over the deaths, saying: "Whether they were inmates, or associated with the underworld, is not relevant to us at this moment. Human beings have died, and there is a deep shock regarding that. This is something that should never have occurred." He added that authorities were working to separate the rival gangs and that the government accepts responsibility.

Opposition legislator Ajith P. Perera criticised the Minister's handling of the crisis, telling reporters: "He didn't do anything to control the situation when it was getting bad yesterday. He was a failure." The opposition has written to the Parliament Speaker seeking an urgent debate on the incident.

The Anura Kumara Dissanayake administration faces twin challenges of the narcotics menace and prison overcrowding, The Hindu — World's editorial noted, highlighting a "culture of mismanagement and official apathy" in the prison system.