A two-day riot at the overcrowded Negombo Prison in Sri Lanka has resulted in 26 deaths, including seven prison guards and 19 inmates, officials confirmed on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.
The clashes began between rival inmate factions on Sunday and escalated on Monday when prisoners attacked guards with bricks and clubs.
An additional 77 injured individuals remain hospitalized.
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara stated that the initial assault targeted inmates who had informed authorities about attempts to smuggle narcotics into the facility.
This prompted the deployment of 120 special unit members.
"Majority of the prison officials have died due to beatings by inmates. They (prison guards) have come under a merciless attack ...
even by bricks and clubs," Nanayakkara said.
The minister explained that guards fired weapons for safety, but some firearms fell into prisoners' hands, who then turned them on security staff.
"We will investigate as to how they got the weapons — whether they got it from the armory or grabbed from the guards," he added.
Organized inmates also destroyed security equipment, leading to the transfer of 734 involved prisoners to other facilities. An independent investigation committee has been formed.
"Whether there were any security lapses or the congestion in the prisons caused this, and our responsibility is to prevent such incidents happening again," Nanayakkara said.
Grieving family members gathered at Welikada Prison in Colombo to receive the bodies of the deceased guards, escorted by police under tight security.
"When I heard about the clash, I thought he's only hospitalised, he will come home," said Dularika Perera, cousin of a deceased sergeant.
Perera added that her cousin, a former navy veteran, left behind a five-year-old daughter and an eight-month-old son.
Welfare advocacy groups highlighted severe overcrowding as a major factor. The Negombo facility held up to 2,600 prisoners despite a capacity of only 650.
"There are drug-related disputes inside the prisons but the government is trying to portray it as the only cause for the violence, using the public sentiment against narcotics," said Senaka Perera, President of the Committee for Rights of Prisoners.
Perera noted that inmates had been increasingly agitated due to minimal medical care for an ongoing dengue fever outbreak within the congested facility.
