The Negombo Prison death toll has risen as a prison guard and transferred inmates die, while authorities plan further inmate transfers.
The Negombo Prison death toll has risen further after a prison guard died from serious injuries, while two inmates transferred following the unrest also died.
The two deceased inmates had been moved from Negombo Prison to other facilities as part of security measures following the violent unrest. One inmate had been transferred to Agunakolapelessa Prison, while the other had been moved to Boossa Prison.
The inmate transferred to Boossa Prison reportedly developed a sudden illness. Authorities admitted him to Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle, where he later died.
Following the unrest, authorities transferred 1,033 inmates from Negombo Prison to prisons across the island.
Prison sources also said an inmate known as “Katuwellegama Suresh” was among those transferred to Boossa Prison. He is alleged to have led the violent clash at Negombo Prison.
Negombo Prison Death Toll Rises After Guard Dies
Meanwhile, a prison guard receiving treatment at Colombo National Hospital died from serious injuries sustained during the recent unrest.
The Prison Media Spokesman confirmed that the latest death had raised the total number of deaths connected to the Negombo Prison incident to 28.
Hospital sources said inmates had attacked the prison guard while he was attempting to control the clash. He had been receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit.
The Negombo Prison death toll has now surpassed the number of inmates who died during the Welikada Prison clash on November 9 and 10, 2012.
The unrest at Negombo Prison began when a protest by inmates against the prison administration turned violent.
The protest initially began over severe prison overcrowding, problems involving health facilities and opposition to decisions to transfer inmates to other prisons.
As the violence escalated, the unrest caused extensive damage to prison property. Security forces then intervened to bring the situation under control.
Following the clash, authorities moved inmates from Negombo Prison to several prisons across Sri Lanka as a security measure.
Two transferred inmates later died after being moved to Agunakolapelessa and Boossa prisons.
“Katuwellegama Suresh,” who authorities suspect of leading the violence, was transferred with others to Boossa High-Security Prison. The Prisons Department and Police are conducting several special investigations into the incident.
Prison Property Damage Exceeds Rs. 10 Crore
Prison sources estimate that the unrest caused property damage exceeding Rs. 10 crore.
The damaged property includes the prison television system, pharmacy, body scanner machine, CCTV system, offices and the main store.
A senior prison official confirmed that the total value of the destroyed property exceeds Rs. 10 crore.
Meanwhile, authorities are planning further transfers as part of efforts to empty Negombo Prison.
Plans are underway to move approximately 500 inmates to the premises of the closed Maha Modara Hospital in the Galle area.
The proposed transfer forms part of the wider response to the unrest and the movement of prisoners away from the affected facility.
High-Risk Inmates Moved to Boossa Prison
Authorities also transferred a group of high-risk inmates as part of measures to control the unrest.
On the night of the 6th, officials transferred 13 high-risk inmates to Boossa Prison. The group included an associate of organized crime gang leader “Kehelbaddara Padme.”
Authorities also moved another 55 general inmates to Boossa Prison.
However, prison sources said tensions continued during the transfer operation. Some groups reportedly behaved disruptively even after officers loaded them onto buses for transfer to other prisons.
As a result, prison officers had to move those groups to different buses before continuing the transfers.
The rising Negombo Prison death toll, the extensive property damage and the movement of more than 1,000 inmates have increased the scale of the crisis facing prison authorities.
With further transfers planned and multiple investigations underway, authorities are now examining the violence, the conduct of those involved and the circumstances surrounding the deaths connected to the unrest.
