By Roy Denish.
Negombo prison riots force helicopters, drones and armed police into action as 25 die and nearly 100 are injured in prison clashes.
The Negombo prison riots remained critical after violent weekend clashes forced authorities to deploy a Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter, surveillance drones, heavily armed police, and riot control teams around the facility. As aerial monitoring continued above the prison, large crowds of worried relatives gathered near the gates, waiting for information while ground forces moved to secure the tense perimeter.
Negombo Prison Riots Trigger Major Security Response
The unrest first erupted on Sunday afternoon between rival inmate factions. Reports said disputes linked to an internal drug trafficking operation sparked the confrontation. The clashes then spread rapidly, forcing the immediate deployment of the Police Special Task Force, riot control units, and heavy police reinforcements around the prison. The military also remained on standby to support police operations if the situation worsened.
The death toll has now climbed to 25, including four prison guards who suffered fatal injuries while trying to contain the first wave of rioting. Nearly 100 others, including inmates and prison staff, sustained injuries. Negombo General Hospital Director Pushpa Gamlath confirmed that doctors continued treating victims for gunshot wounds, cuts, and severe bruising. Medical teams transferred the most critical cases to the National Hospital in Colombo for further treatment.
The violence intensified when rioting inmates breached high-security cells and reportedly seized firearms from inside the prison. Residents living close to the facility said they heard sustained gunfire during the worst moments of the unrest. Meanwhile, a group of female inmates climbed onto the roof of an adjoining section and staged a protest demanding release. More injuries followed when part of that roof collapsed during the incident.
Prison authorities have now started transferring selected inmates to the Pallansena Prison Camp in an effort to reduce tension inside the facility. At the same time, police have opened investigations, while a separate team appointed by the Commissioner General of Prisons will examine how the security breach occurred. Investigators must also determine how inmates accessed weapons inside the prison. As a result, the Justice Ministry has demanded a full and detailed report into the breakdown of order and the failures that allowed the Negombo prison riots to escalate so dangerously.
