At least 23 people, including four prison guards, were killed and more than 100 others injured after violent clashes erupted inside a prison in Negombo, Sri Lanka, officials said on Monday.
The incident is being described as the country’s deadliest prison riot in more than five years and has once again highlighted concerns over overcrowding and security conditions in Sri Lanka’s prison system.
Violence Erupted Between Rival Inmate Groups
According to police, the unrest began on Sunday evening when clashes broke out between inmates believed to belong to two rival drug gangs inside Negombo Prison, located north of the capital, Colombo.
The violence quickly escalated, leaving prison authorities struggling to restore order as fighting spread through the facility, which houses several thousand inmates.
Emergency services transported the injured to Negombo Hospital, where medical teams treated a large number of prisoners and prison staff.
Hospital Confirms Casualties
Negombo Hospital Director Pushpa Gamlath confirmed that 23 bodies had been brought to the state-run hospital.
She also said that more than 100 injured inmates and prison personnel had been admitted for treatment.
According to Gamlath, the victims suffered a range of injuries, including gunshot wounds, deep cuts, and severe bruises, reflecting the intensity of the violence inside the prison.
Security Tightened as Situation Escalated
Officials said the unrest spread to the women’s section of the prison, where female inmates climbed onto a rooftop and demanded to be released after news of the clashes reached them.
Police said a section of the roof later collapsed, causing injuries to several women.
Sri Lankan authorities deployed police commandos to the prison complex on Monday, although officials said they were not sent inside the facility. The Sri Lanka Air Force also used drones and a helicopter to monitor the situation from the air as security forces worked to regain control.
Meanwhile, large numbers of relatives gathered outside the prison seeking information about their family members. Local residents reported hearing gunfire during the operation.
Four Prison Guards Among the Dead
A police official said four prison guards lost their lives while attempting to stop the violence.
According to the official, the situation deteriorated rapidly, making it difficult for prison authorities to contain the unrest before additional security forces arrived.
Authorities have not yet released a complete breakdown of the identities of those killed, while investigations into the cause of the clashes remain ongoing.
Overcrowding Remains a Major Concern
The latest tragedy has renewed attention on Sri Lanka’s overcrowded prison system.
Official figures show that the country’s prisons were holding 41,250 inmates as of Sunday—approximately four times their intended capacity. Rights groups and prison experts have repeatedly warned that overcrowding increases tensions, creates poor living conditions, and raises the risk of violence.
Sri Lanka has experienced similar incidents in the past. In December 2020, a prison riot during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the deaths of 11 inmates and left 117 others injured, prompting authorities to release hundreds of prisoners in an effort to reduce overcrowding.
The latest riot is expected to intensify calls for reforms aimed at improving prison conditions, strengthening security, and addressing chronic overcrowding within the country’s correctional facilities.
