Sri Lanka Prison Riots Leave 26 Dead and Over 100 Injured

Involving armed clashes that began on Sunday, inmates at Negombo Prison in western Sri Lanka seized guards' firearms, provoking a violent eruption that claimed 26 lives and left more than 100 wounded over two days.

Early afternoon clashes saw guards lose control, with an inmate allegedly signalling a drug‑trafficking plot inside the facility, sparking further chaos. Guards were shot at, and prisoners—including a group of women from a neighbouring unit—climbed to rooftops demanding release.

Police and military units were called in; gunfire broke out inside the walls of the prison. Part of the roof collapsed, injuring female inmates, and the military was placed on standby while areas were cleared.

Up to 23 prison officers and 54 inmates are currently under medical care, some treated at Negombo Hospital and others sent to Colombo National Hospital for bullet wounds and serious cuts.

The ministry's justice commissioner announced an investigation and an imminent report. Authorities are transferring inmates to other prisons while families camp outside, seeking updates on relatives’ status.

Negombo’s riots were the most severe in recent years—only the December 2020 incident at another prison had 11 deaths and 117 injuries. With 41,250 inmates, Sri Lanka’s prisons are four times overcapacity, raising urgent calls for reform.