Dozens killed and more than 100 injured in Sri Lanka prison riot

A violent prison riot in Sri Lanka has claimed the lives of at least 23 people, including six prison guards, with more than 100 others injured. The clashes, which occurred at a prison in Negombo, north of the capital Colombo, are the deadliest in the country's correctional facilities in years.

Police stated that the fighting erupted between inmates belonging to two rival drug gangs. Victims sustained injuries from both gunshots and cuts, and were rushed to Negombo Hospital. Hospital director Pushpa Gamlath confirmed 23 bodies were at the facility, with many of the seriously wounded transferred to Colombo National Hospital.

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Whether they were inmates, or associated with the underworld, is not relevant to us at this moment. Human beings have died, and there is a deep shock regarding that. This is something that should never have occurred.

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara expressed deep shock and grief over the incident, emphasizing that the focus was on the loss of human life. "Human beings have died, and there is a deep shock regarding that. This is something that should never have occurred," he said, adding that authorities were working to separate the rival gangs.

Fighting began Sunday evening at the Negombo Prison, which houses several thousand inmates. On Monday morning, some prisoners attempted a breakout, while others clashed with armed guards. In a separate incident, female inmates in an adjacent section climbed onto a roof demanding release, leading to a partial collapse that injured some women. Police and commandos secured the prison perimeter, with the air force using drones and a helicopter for surveillance amid gatherings of inmates' relatives.

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They made a dash to the main gate, but we were able to hold them back.