At least 26 dead, over 100 wounded in two-day Sri Lanka prison violence
Two days of clashes at Negombo Prison in western Sri Lanka have resulted in 26 fatalities, including seven guards, and more than 100 injuries, authorities reported.
Riots at Negombo Prison, located in a coastal town north of Colombo, have left at least 26 people dead and over 100 injured, according to officials. The dead include seven prison guards.
The violence erupted on Sunday when two groups of inmates clashed. Prisoners allegedly seized guards' firearms, leading to two deaths and dozens of injuries that day. Later, groups of male inmates and women from an adjoining unit climbed onto the prison roof, demanding their release.
On Monday, fresh clashes broke out as inmates attempted to storm the prison gates. Security forces were deployed, and multiple gunshots were heard from inside. The disturbances were reportedly triggered by a dispute over an inmate who had informed on a drug trafficking operation within the prison.
A total of 23 prison officers and 54 inmates remain hospitalized, some with bullet wounds, cuts, and severe bruises. The injured were taken to Negombo Hospital and Colombo National Hospital. Additionally, part of the prison roof collapsed during the incident, injuring some female inmates. Crowds of relatives gathered outside the prison on Monday, expressing frustration over lack of information about their loved ones' whereabouts and condition.
