At least 26 killed, including guards, in Sri Lanka prison clashes

At least 26 people, including seven prison guards, have been killed in two days of bloody clashes at a prison in Sri Lanka. Over a hundred others have been injured.

The violence began on Sunday at a prison in the coastal town of Negombo, about 35 kilometres from the capital Colombo, between convicted prisoners and remand prisoners. The violence continued on Monday, with casualties rising, according to BBC reports.

The clashes were triggered after a prisoner leaked information about drug smuggling inside the prison. On Sunday, inmates seized firearms from the prison, with two killed and dozens injured that day. The clashes then spread, continuing into the next day.

At one point, several male inmates and women from an adjacent unit climbed onto the prison roof demanding release. On Monday, fresh violence broke out as inmates attempted to rush the main gate. Security forces were deployed to control the situation, and several rounds of gunfire were heard from inside. A section of the prison roof collapsed during the clashes, injuring several female inmates.

Some of the injured were taken to Negombo Hospital, with wounds including gunshot injuries, cuts and serious trauma, while others were transferred to Colombo National Hospital.

As the situation worsened on Monday, a large crowd of relatives gathered outside the prison. Several told BBC Sinhala that authorities had provided no information on whether their loved ones were alive or dead.

Police have launched an operation to take control of the prison's interior. The army has also been put on standby at the request of police. Prison authorities have taken steps to transfer inmates to other prisons. Justice and Prison Affairs Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has ordered a full investigation.

Sri Lanka's overcrowded prisons frequently witness violence, but this week's clashes are the worst in recent years. In December 2020, violence at another prison killed 11 and injured 117. As of Sunday, Sri Lanka's prisons held 41,250 inmates — nearly four times their capacity.