Violent Riot in Negombo Prison Kills 19 in Sri Lanka

At least 15 prisoners and four guards lost their lives in violent clashes that erupted Sunday evening at Negombo prison, located on the outskirts of Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, a medical source confirmed on Monday.

Pushpa Gamlath, director of Negombo Hospital, told AFP that approximately one hundred other inmates were admitted to the hospital following the outbreak of violence.

Authorities reported that the disturbances began Sunday evening when two groups of inmates, described as rival drug trafficking gangs, engaged in conflict inside the facility, which houses nearly 10,000 prisoners.

A police officer who requested anonymity told AFP, "The situation completely got out of control, and four guards were killed while trying to suppress the riot."

Gamlath added that some victims had sustained gunshot wounds.

Special police units were called in as reinforcements but did not enter the prison grounds, while numerous family members of inmates gathered outside the facility.

In December 2020, a prison uprising during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in 11 deaths and 117 injuries, prompting the government at the time to release hundreds of inmates.

Official statistics indicate that as of Sunday, Sri Lanka's prison population stood at 41,250, which is four times the official capacity of the prison system.