Investigation Underway After Deadly Clash at Negombo Prison Leaves Two Inmates Dead

Authorities have launched a special investigation into a violent clash between two groups of inmates at Negombo Prison that claimed the lives of two prisoners and left dozens of others injured.

Prisons Commissioner and Media Spokesman A.C. Gajanayake said the Commissioner General of Prisons had appointed a special investigation team to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to Police, the clash erupted at around 1 p.m. on Saturday (5) between a group of remand prisoners and a group of convicted inmates. The violence resulted in the deaths of two inmates, while 34 others were admitted to the Negombo District General Hospital with injuries. Two of the injured, who sustained critical injuries, were later transferred to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo for specialised treatment.

Following the confrontation, a group of inmates climbed onto the roof of a prison building in protest. During the demonstration, four additional inmates were hospitalised after falling from the roof.

Prison authorities, supported by the Police, the Special Task Force (STF), and the Sri Lanka Army, were deployed to contain the unrest and reinforce security within and around the prison premises.

Gajanayake said that a total of 36 inmates had initially been hospitalised following the clash. Two of those injured later succumbed to their injuries, while three inmates who received treatment were subsequently transferred to the Pallansena prison camp.

He noted that Negombo Prison currently houses 2,417 inmates and confirmed that the situation inside the facility had been brought under control by prison officials. External security continues to be maintained by the Police, the STF, and the Sri Lanka Army to prevent any further disturbances.

The Prisons Commissioner emphasised that the incident was strictly an altercation between inmates and that no prison officers were involved in the violence.

He also urged the families of inmates not to panic, assuring them that the situation had been stabilised and was being closely monitored by the authorities.

According to Gajanayake, inmates had submitted several requests to the Commissioner General of Prisons, who had assured them that their concerns would be reviewed as part of the ongoing engagement with prison authorities.

The special investigation is expected to establish the sequence of events leading to the clash and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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