A violent clash at Sri Lanka's prison in Negombo has resulted in at least 26 deaths and 77 hospitalizations, officials confirmed Tuesday. The conflict, which began Sunday between inmates, escalated Monday when prisoners attacked guards who intervened. Seven prison officials and 19 inmates were among the fatalities.
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara stated that the violence is believed to be linked to narcotic drugs and gang rivalries. He explained that the clash originated between two rival gangs involved in the illegal drug trade, with an initial assault targeting inmates who had acted as informants. Prison guards were subsequently attacked. "Majority of the prison officials have died due to beatings by inmates," Nanayakkara told parliament, adding that guards fired their weapons for self-defense and to control the situation.
Authorities are investigating how some firearms fell into the hands of inmates, who reportedly used them against the guards. A group of inmates also destroyed CCTV cameras and a body scanner, an act seen as an attempt to disrupt the mechanism preventing contraband from entering the prison.
In response to the violence, 734 inmates involved in the clashes have been transferred to other prisons. A committee led by a retired judge will be formed to investigate the incident, alongside a police probe and an internal prison department investigation. These inquiries aim to determine the causes of the clashes, including potential security lapses or the impact of prison congestion.
Prison welfare groups, however, point to severe overcrowding and poor living conditions as significant contributing factors. Senaka Perera, President of the Committee for Rights of Prisoners, noted that Sri Lankan prisons are currently holding more than 39,000 inmates in facilities designed for only 10,000. The Negombo prison, with a capacity of 650, held 2,600 inmates at the time of the clash. Perera suggested that while drug-related disputes exist, the government may be overemphasizing this aspect, while inmates have also raised concerns about inadequate care for illnesses like dengue fever.
Relatives of inmates gathered outside the prison and hospitals seeking information, with security around the prison premises being heightened by the deployment of additional army troops and armed tanks.