Sri Lanka Prison Riot Leaves 26 Dead, Over 100 Injured

Sun Sep 06 2026 01:49:32 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Violent riots at Negombo Prison in Sri Lanka have killed 26 people, including 7 guards, and injured more than 100 inmates and staff.

Two days of violence at Negombo Prison have claimed 26 lives, most of them inmates and guards, and left more than 100 people wounded. The unrest began when inmates clashed, seized guards’ firearms, and demanded release, leading to a mass escape attempt that slammed the facility’s roof. Military and police intervened amid a chaotic environment where drug‑trafficking allegations spurred the outbreak. Authorities have deployed medical teams, cleared dangerous areas, and transferred inmates to other facilities, while the Justice Ministry is investigating the incident. The killings come amid chronic overcrowding, as Sri Lankan prisons hold four times their designed capacity.

Sri Lanka Prison Riot Leaves 26 Dead, Over 100 Injured

Two days of violent clashes at Negombo Prison in western Sri Lanka culminated in 26 deaths, including seven guards, and more than 100 injuries. The unrest began on Sunday when detainees seized several guards’ firearms and engaged in a fierce battle. Over the next 48 hours, inmates and women from an adjoining unit climbed onto rooftops, demanding release, while a roof collapsed in the chaos, injuring several prisoners.

The violence was reportedly sparked by a dispute over an inmate’s information regarding a drug‑trafficking operation inside the prison. Military forces were deployed after the police requested support, and gunshots were heard from within the yard. The Metropolitan Police reported that 23 officers and 54 inmates are still receiving medical treatment, with many suffering bullet wounds, cuts, and bruises.

Emergency medical teams from Negombo Hospital and Colombo National Hospital are treating the wounded. Authorities have secured dangerous sections and cleared debris while maintaining a military standby presence. The prisons commissioner AC Gajanayake announced that inmates are being transferred to other facilities, and Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara ordered a full investigation.

Sri Lanka’s prisons are running at a rate four times their designed capacity, with 41,250 inmates held in facilities that can accommodate only 10,000. The Negombo riots are the worst in years; in December 2020, another prison suffered 11 deaths and 117 injuries.

Prisoner convoy escorted to transport

The incident has drawn criticism over prison conditions, overcrowding, and inmate safety. By mid‑afternoon on Monday, crowds of relatives gathered outside the facility, demanding clear information about missing family members. The government said it would conduct a thorough investigation and recommend reforms to prevent future outbreaks.