COLOMBO – At least 19 people were killed and more than 100 others injured after violent clashes between rival groups of inmates erupted at a prison in Sri Lanka’s coastal city of Negombo, the local authorities confirmed on Monday.
The officials said that the violence first broke out on Sunday when two groups of prisoners engaged in a fierce confrontation inside Negombo Prison. Although prison authorities managed to bring the situation under control later that night, fresh clashes erupted on Monday, leading to heavy casualties.
The unrest claimed the lives of 19 people, including four prison officials and 15 inmates. More than 100 prisoners sustained injuries during the violence and were rushed to hospitals for medical treatment.
The authorities said the injured were initially taken to Negombo General Hospital, while those in critical condition were being transferred to hospitals in the capital, Colombo, for specialized treatment.
Security forces and prison officials were deployed in large numbers to regain control of the facility and prevent the violence from spreading to other sections of the prison. The situation was eventually brought under control, although security remained on high alert.
The exact cause of the clashes has not yet been disclosed, and officials have not confirmed what triggered the confrontation between the two inmate groups.
Sri Lankan authorities have launched a formal investigation into the incident to determine the circumstances that led to the deadly violence. Investigators are expected to examine possible security lapses, the sequence of events, and whether additional measures are required to improve prison safety.
The deadly clash is one of the most serious incidents reported in a Sri Lankan prison in recent years and has raised concerns over security and inmate management within the country’s correctional facilities.
Officials said further details would be released as the investigation progresses and the identities of those killed are confirmed. Meanwhile, authorities continue to monitor the condition of the injured, several of whom remain in critical condition.
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