2026 Negombo prison riot

On 5 July 2026, clashes between rival inmate groups broke out at Negombo Prison in Negombo, Sri Lanka, and developed into a two-day prison riot. The riot left 27 people dead, including seven prison officers, and injured more than 100 others. Authorities said the violence involved rival drug gangs operating inside the prison. Order was restored on 6 July after police, military and Special Task Force personnel were deployed. It was the deadliest prison riot in Sri Lanka since the 2012 Welikada prison riot.

Background

According to the Department Of Prisons, the country's prisons were holding more than 39,000 inmates despite having an official capacity of approximately 10,000, making Sri Lanka's correctional system one of the most overcrowded in South Asia. Prison overcrowding has been repeatedly identified by government officials and human rights organisations as a contributing factor to violence, poor living conditions and security challenges.

Negombo Prison, located approximately 35 kilometres (22 mi) north of Colombo, houses both convicted prisoners and remand detainees and held around 2,400 inmates at the time of the riot. Authorities have previously reported the presence of organised criminal groups within the prison, including rival gangs involved in the illegal drug trade, which have contributed to recurring security concerns.

Sri Lanka has experienced several major prison disturbances in recent decades, including the 2012 Welikada prison riot and the 2020 Mahara prison riot. Both incidents resulted in multiple deaths and prompted calls for reforms to the country's prison system.

5 July

On 5 July 2026, clashes broke out between rival groups of inmates at Negombo Prison. According to the Department of Prisons, the violence began during breakfast after a confrontation between convicted prisoners and remand detainees linked to rival groups involved in the illegal drug trade. Prison officers intervened but were unable to contain the fighting. During the unrest, some inmates moved towards the prison's main entrance in an apparent escape attempt, which was prevented by prison authorities. Police riot units and the Special Task Force were deployed to assist prison officers, while officials reported that some inmates had gained access to weapons.

By the evening, authorities reported that two inmates had been killed and 38 others injured. The injured were taken to Negombo General Hospital, with 18 later transferred to hospitals in Colombo for further treatment. Police and military personnel remained deployed around the prison overnight, while relatives of inmates gathered outside the prison and nearby hospitals awaiting official information.

6 July

On the morning of 6 July, fighting resumed in several parts of the prison. Police, the Special Task Force and the Sri Lanka Army were deployed to assist prison authorities in restoring order. The Sri Lanka Air Force used drones and a helicopter to monitor the prison, while security forces were positioned around the perimeter to prevent escapes.

Hospital officials said that AbOUT 100 inmates and prison officers were admitted for treatment following the clashes. By the evening, authorities had restored order at the prison. Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said that inmates suspected of involvement in the violence had been transferred to other prisons and attributed the unrest to a dispute between rival gangs involved in narcotics trafficking.

7 July

On 7 July, the Ministry of Justice announced that the death toll had risen to 26, comprising 19 inmates and seven prison officers, while 77 people including 54 inmates and 23 prison officers—remained hospitalised. Addressing to the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara described the riot as a "tragic incident" and announced three separate investigations: a criminal investigation by the police, an internal inquiry by the Department of Prisons, and an independent committee chaired by a retired judge. The investigations were tasked with determining the immediate cause of the violence, examining possible security failures, and assessing whether chronic prison overcrowding contributed to the scale of the disturbance. Security around Negombo Prison was further strengthened with additional army personnel and military vehicles, while relatives continued to gather outside the prison and hospitals awaiting information about missing inmates.

As of 7 July 2026, 27 people have been killed.

Casualties

Initial reports on 6 July stated that at least 25 people were killed and more than 100 injured during the two-day riot. Those killed and injured included both inmates and prison officers. The injured were treated at Negombo General Hospital and other hospitals in the Western Province, with several critically injured inmates transferred to Colombo for further treatment.

On 7 July, the Ministry of Justice and National Integration revised the death toll to 26, comprising 19 inmates and seven prison officers, while 77 people remained hospitalized, including 54 inmates and 23 prison officers.

Prison authorities confirmed that no foreign inmates were killed or injured during the clashes. Foreign prisoners, including inmates from India and Australia, were later transferred to other prisons as a precautionary measure.

Reactions

Sri Lankan authorities expressed condolences to the families of those killed and announced investigations into the causes of the violence. Harshana Nanayakkara, the Minister of Justice and National Integration, described the incident as a tragedy and said the government was focused on determining how the violence occurred and preventing similar incidents in the future. He stated that the deaths of inmates and prison officers were a matter of concern regardless of the victims' backgrounds and extended condolences to their families.

The Ministry of Justice announced that multiple investigations would be conducted into the riot. These included a criminal investigation by the police, an internal inquiry by the Department of Prisons, and an independent investigation led by a retired judge. The inquiries were tasked with examining the immediate causes of the clashes, possible security failures, the availability of weapons inside the prison, and whether overcrowding contributed to the scale of the unrest.

See also

• 2012 Welikada prison riot
• 2020 Mahara prison riot
• Crime in Sri Lanka
• 2026 in Sri Lanka