2026 Negombo prison riot

Negombo prison riot

Date	5–6 July 2026
Duration	Two days
Location	Negombo Prison, Negombo, Sri Lanka 7.2086°N 79.8358°E / 7.2086; 79.8358
Type	Prison riot
Cause	Clashes between rival inmate groups reportedly linked to drug gangs
Participants	Inmates of Negombo Prison Department of Prisons Sri Lanka Police
Outcome	Security forces restored control of the prison
Deaths	27
Injuries	More than 100

On 5 July 2026, clashes broke out between rival inmate groups at Negombo Prison in Negombo, Sri Lanka, escalating into a two-day prison riot that left 27 people dead, including seven prison officers, and more than 100 others injured. The violence, reportedly linked to rival drug gangs operating within the prison, was brought under control on 6 July following the deployment of police, military and Special Task Force personnel. It was the deadliest prison riot in Sri Lanka since the 2012 Welikada prison riot.

Background

See also: Crime in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's prison system has long experienced chronic overcrowding, deteriorating infrastructure and the influence of organised criminal networks. 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 of which resulted in multiple deaths and prompted calls for prison reform. Despite subsequent recommendations to address overcrowding, improve prison management and strengthen security, many of the structural problems affecting the prison system remained unresolved prior to the 2026 riot.

Riots

5 July

On 5 July 2026, clashes erupted between rival groups of inmates inside Negombo Prison. According to the Department of Prisons, the violence began during the distribution of breakfast when a confrontation broke out between convicted prisoners and remand detainees associated with rival criminal groups involved in the illegal drug trade. Prison officers intervened to separate the groups, but the confrontation rapidly escalated as inmates attacked the officers and seized control of several sections of the prison. Groups of inmates advanced towards the prison's main entrance in an apparent attempt to force their way out of the facility. Prison authorities prevented the attempted breakout, while police riot units and the Special Task Force were deployed to reinforce prison security. The disturbance continued throughout the day, with prisoners reportedly gaining access to weapons during the unrest.

By the evening, authorities reported that two inmates had been killed and 38 others injured. Many of the wounded were transported to Negombo General Hospital, where medical staff treated gunshot wounds, cuts and blunt-force injuries. Eighteen of the injured were later transferred to hospitals in Colombo for specialist treatment. Security forces maintained a cordon around the prison overnight as tensions remained high, while relatives gathered outside the prison and nearby hospitals seeking information about family members inside.

6 July

A second and more severe wave of violence broke out during the morning of 6 July. Fighting spread across additional prison blocks, prompting authorities to launch a large-scale security operation involving police riot squads, Special Task Force commandos and units of the Sri Lanka Army. The Sri Lanka Air Force deployed drones and a helicopter to provide aerial surveillance, while armoured military vehicles were stationed around the prison to prevent escapes and support the operation to regain control of the facility.

Hospital officials reported receiving approximately 100 injured inmates and prison officers, many suffering from gunshot wounds, lacerations and severe bruising. As security personnel cleared individual prison blocks, the number of fatalities rose sharply. Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara later stated that the prison had been brought fully under government control by the evening and that inmates believed to have organised the violence had been transferred to other correctional institutions. He also confirmed that the initial confrontation had stemmed from a dispute between rival gangs involved in narcotics trafficking.

Initial reports placed the death toll at 25, including prison officers and inmates, with approximately 100 people injured. Reuters reported that six prison officials were among those killed, while other casualty figures continued to be revised as authorities completed the recovery and identification process.

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 has been killed.

Casualties

The casualty figures changed as authorities continued to identify victims and account for the injured. Initial reports on 6 July stated that 25 people had been killed and more than 100 injured during the two-day riot. Officials reported that the dead included inmates and prison officers, while the injured comprised both prisoners and prison staff. Many of the victims sustained gunshot wounds, lacerations and blunt-force injuries, and were treated at Negombo General Hospital and other hospitals in the Western Province. Several critically injured inmates were transferred to hospitals in Colombo for specialist 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

Following the riot, 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