Violence Erupts in Sri Lanka's Negombo Prison, Death Toll Reaches 27

A violent riot at Negombo prison in Sri Lanka has led to the deaths of 27 individuals, including both inmates and prison officials. The unrest, which began between rival inmate groups, escalated into a deadly confrontation. Authorities have initiated an investigation to uncover the causes of the violence and ensure accountability. With over 100 individuals injured and many requiring emergency medical attention, the situation has raised serious concerns about prison management and safety. The opposition has called for urgent discussions in Parliament regarding the handling of the crisis. As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on preventing such incidents in the future.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 7, 2026, 16:00 IST

Tragic Events Unfold at Negombo Prison

A screengrab image of the aftermath following a deadly riot at Negombo prison in Sri Lanka(Source: X)

Colombo, July 7: The violent riots at Negombo prison have resulted in a tragic death toll of 27, as officials confirmed that order has been restored.

During the chaos, approximately 700 inmates, including several foreign nationals, were safely evacuated. In response to the incident, the government has initiated a three-member investigation led by a retired Supreme Court judge to examine the events and propose measures to prevent future occurrences.

According to prisons spokesperson A C Gajanayake, the unrest began on Sunday between two inmate factions and escalated into an attempted escape on Monday. The violence erupted as inmates attacked prison staff during breakfast service.

The ensuing gunfire resulted in the deaths of seven prison officials and 19 inmates, with the toll increasing to 27 by Tuesday morning, as reported by Gajanayake.

Over 100 individuals, including inmates and prison staff, were treated at Negombo Hospital, with some later transferred to the National Hospital in Colombo. Health officials indicated that at least 10 individuals required emergency surgeries.

Harshana Nanayakkara, the minister overseeing prisons, assured Parliament that a comprehensive investigation would be conducted to uncover any failures that contributed to the violence.

"We will thoroughly investigate the incident to identify any lapses that may have led to this situation," stated Nanayakkara, a former judge.

Opposition member Ajith P Perera criticized the minister's response to the crisis, claiming he failed to act as the situation deteriorated. Perera expressed his concerns to reporters.

The opposition has formally requested an urgent parliamentary debate regarding the incident.

On Tuesday, authorities transferred a notorious inmate, Katuwellegoda Suresh, to the high-security Boossa prison, suspecting his involvement in the prison's internal drug distribution network as a key factor in the unrest.

Negombo Magistrate Shirani Perera visited the prison to oversee a magisterial inquiry, while the Human Rights Commission also conducted an inspection of the facility.

At the time of the riots, the prison was housing approximately 1,800 inmates.