30 Dead in Sri Lanka Prison Riot Leads to Transfer of Detained British Woman

Charlotte May Lee, a 22-year-old former British flight attendant, has been transferred to another prison in Sri Lanka after the facility where she was held witnessed a bloody riot that left 30 people dead.

This comes as she remains detained on suspicion of attempting to smuggle drugs worth over one million pounds sterling.

Charlotte has been behind bars for approximately 18 months after being stopped by Sri Lankan authorities on suspicion of trying to bring in around 46 kilograms of industrial cannabis, valued at approximately 1.2 million pounds sterling.

The British Daily Mail reported that the young woman, who previously worked as a flight attendant for TUI, was moved from Negombo Prison to Kolappitya Prison amid concerns for her safety following the violence at the first facility.

Bloody Riots Inside Overcrowded Prison
Sources close to Charlotte stated that the riots broke out last July and lasted two days, resulting in the deaths of 20 prisoners and 10 prison staff following clashes between two rival groups.

Negombo Prison housed around 2,400 inmates despite having a capacity of no more than 650 people, reflecting the severe overcrowding at the detention site when the events occurred.

The sources explained that Charlotte suffered psychological trauma due to the violence but has begun adapting to her new place of detention and is trying to learn the local language to overcome communication difficulties and interact with those around her.

Allegations of Drug Smuggling in Suitcases
The details of the case date back to May 2025, when Sri Lankan authorities stopped Charlotte at Colombo Airport after announcing the discovery of a large quantity of industrial cannabis inside her suitcases, distributed in sealed bags.

The young woman denies knowledge of the presence of drugs in her luggage, asserting that the quantity was placed inside her bags without her knowledge during a trip heading to the Thai capital, Bangkok.

Despite her continued detention, reports indicate that no final formal charges have been brought against her so far. If convicted, she could face a prison sentence of up to 25 years.

Charlotte had previously spoken about the conditions she experienced inside the prison, explaining that she shared a cell with five other women and slept on a thin mattress placed on a concrete floor.