Sri Lanka Prison Riots — 26 Dead, 100 Injured

Two days of violence broke out at Negombo Prison, a coastal facility north of Colombo, killing 26 people—including seven guards—and leaving over 100 inmates and staff wounded. The unrest began when inmates seized guards’ firearms on Sunday, triggering a clash between rival prisoner groups. By Monday, the situation escalated: male inmates and women from an adjoining unit climbed onto rooftops demanding release, while others tried to breach the gates. Multiple gunshots were heard inside the prison as police and military forces were called in.

Officials say the riots were sparked by a confrontation over an inmate who had reported on an internal drug‑trafficking operation. A total of 23 prison officers and 54 inmates are still receiving medical treatment, with some wounded taken to Negombo Hospital and others to Colombo National Hospital. Reports indicate the roof of a prison area collapsed during the disturbance, injuring several female detainees.

In the aftermath, authorities have begun clearing affected areas and placing the military on standby, while prison officials announced secondary relocation of inmates to other facilities. Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara ordered a full investigation, and the prisons commissioner has requested an immediate report.

The scale of the violence—one of the worst in recent years—highlights ongoing systemic issues. Sri Lanka’s prisons housed approximately 41,250 inmates this week, soaring four times their designed capacity, according to AFP. Such overcrowding creates a volatile environment that can quickly spiral into lethal confrontations.

Images from the Outbreak

Prisoners were escorted to buses after the riots.

Prisoners escorted to buses after the riots.