Three dead, 23 injured in Sri Lanka prison riots amid overcrowding crisis

Three prisoners died and at least 23 others were injured in two separate prison riots in Sri Lanka on Friday. The unrest highlights the severe overcrowding crisis plaguing the nation's prison system, which currently holds over 41,000 inmates in facilities built to accommodate approximately 11,000.

One prisoner was killed and 10 injured in a riot that began late Thursday at Colombo's New Magazine Prison. A second riot at Kuruwita prison, located about 80 km from the capital, resulted in two prisoner deaths and 14 injuries, according to Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala, who addressed parliament.

Police and special forces managed to bring both disturbances under control. Additional unrest at an open prison in Negombo was also contained after police deployed tear gas against protesting inmates. Heavy police presence and riot squads were deployed to all three facilities, ensuring inmates who had climbed onto rooftops or moved into open areas were returned to their wards.

Wijepala suggested that the incidents might indicate planning and an attempt at sabotage, but stated that a comprehensive investigation is required before drawing further conclusions. The minister also noted that Sri Lanka is planning to amend its constitution to extend the tenure of superior court judges by two years. This measure aims to clear a backlog of over 1 million court cases and contribute to reducing the overall prisoner population.

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We have controlled the situation now. There are no concerns about security. When you take all these incidents together it appears that there is planning behind these and an attempt at sabotage. But we can only say anything further after a comprehensive investigation.