At least 25 dead, 100 injured as rival gangs clash in Sri Lanka's Negombo prison
Violence between rival inmate groups at Negombo prison in Sri Lanka has killed at least 25 people and injured more than 100, with authorities blaming a dispute over drug trafficking.
What happened
Clashes erupted on Sunday evening between two groups of prisoners at the high-security Negombo prison, about 35 kilometres north of Colombo. The violence continued into Monday, with inmates reportedly seizing prison firearms and later attempting to rush the main gate. Security forces were deployed and gunshots were heard from inside the facility. Authorities said the situation was brought under control by Monday afternoon.
- Clashes break out between two inmate groups.
- Two killed, dozens injured; inmates seize prison firearms.
- Women inmates climb onto roof demanding release; part of roof collapses.
- Inmates attempt to rush main gate; security forces deploy, gunshots heard.
- Situation brought under control, according to authorities.
Casualties and injuries
Death tolls varied across official and media sources. Police and hospital sources told Reuters that 25 people were killed and about 100 injured. Spiegel Online cited official figures of at least 26 dead, including 19 inmates and seven guards. Le Monde reported at least 23 dead, six of them guards. BBC and Deutsche Welle put the toll at 25 dead, four of them guards. ČT24 and Niezalezna.pl reported 19 dead, including 15 inmates and four guards. The number of injured exceeded 100 in most accounts.
Some had bullet wounds, while others had sustained cuts and severe bruises.
Cause and context
Initial investigations pointed to a clash between rival gangs involved in organised crime and drug trafficking. Local media reported that the violence may have been triggered by an inmate informing on a drug operation inside the prison. An anonymous police source told AFP that the situation "completely got out of control" and that four guards were killed while trying to stop the riots.
The situation completely got out of control. Four guards were killed when they tried to stop the riots.
Security response and rooftop protest
During the unrest, groups of male prisoners and women from an adjoining unit climbed onto prison rooftops demanding release. Part of the roof collapsed, injuring several women. Police special intervention units were called but did not enter the prison grounds immediately. The military was placed on standby outside the facility. Footage showed a large police presence and injured inmates being transported to hospital by bus.
Overcrowding and past warnings
Sri Lanka's prisons are severely overcrowded. Official figures cited by Spiegel put the total inmate population at 41,250, roughly four times the system's designed capacity. Amnesty International has previously warned of torture by fellow inmates at Negombo prison, and media have repeatedly reported on riots and overcrowding. In December 2023, then-president Ranil Wickremesinghe granted amnesty to over 1,000 prisoners after nearly 15,000 people were detained in anti-drug operations.
