At least 25 people, including five prison officers and 20 inmates, have been killed following two days of violent clashes at the Negombo Prison, according to local media reports.
The unrest began on Sunday afternoon when a clash broke out among inmates at the prison, which houses more than 1,800 convicted prisoners and remand suspects. Initial reports said the violence was triggered by allegations that an inmate had informed on a drug trafficking operation.
Two inmates were killed and 34 others injured in the initial clash. Later, groups of male and female inmates climbed onto prison rooftops in protest, while four inmates were injured after part of a roof collapsed.
Police, the Special Task Force (STF), and the Sri Lanka Army were deployed on Sunday night, and prison authorities said the situation had been brought under control by midnight.
However, fresh violence erupted on Monday morning when inmates reportedly attempted to force their way out through the prison’s main entrance. Security forces were deployed again to contain the unrest, with multiple gunshots heard from inside the prison.
More than 100 people were injured during the violence, including several prison officers. Some of the injured remain in critical condition.
Authorities said rioting inmates stormed the prison hospital and stole medicines, while also breaking into other facilities and using metal objects during the violence.
Emotional scenes outside Negombo Prison as relatives of inmates break down in tears, desperately seeking information about their loved ones following the deadly prison violence that has left at least 25 people dead.
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Security officials said firearms had been removed from the prison armoury on Sunday night over fears inmates could seize them. However, on Monday morning, inmates allegedly assaulted prison officers and stole their mobile phones before security forces regained control.
Officials said the prison houses 26 inmates linked to organised criminal gangs. According to security sources, the unrest was allegedly orchestrated by an inmate identified as Katullegama Suresh, who is serving a prison sentence and faces multiple criminal charges, including assault, robbery and drug-related offences.
Authorities are continuing investigations into the incident. (Newswire)
Violence at Negombo Prison resumed on Monday morning when a clash broke out between two groups of inmates during the distribution of breakfast, the Department of Prisons said.
Prisons Media Spokesperson AC Gajanayake said prison officers had managed to bring the situation under control on Sunday following an earlier confrontation.
However, when officers entered the prison to distribute breakfast on Monday morning, the two groups of inmates clashed again.
He said prison officers attempted to intervene and restore order, but were assaulted by inmates.
According to the spokesperson, the inmates then pursued the officers towards the prison’s main gate, continued attacking them, and attempted to break through the entrance.
Prison officers stationed at the gate tried to prevent the inmates from damaging the entrance and remove them from the area, but were again attacked by a large group of prisoners.
Dissanayake said additional prison officers intervened and used the minimum force necessary to bring the situation under control.
Several prison officers were injured and admitted to hospital.
As of now, at least 25 people have been confirmed dead in the violence, while authorities continue to assess the full extent of the casualties. (Newswire)