COLOMBO, 7 July, 2026 (TON): The death toll from violent unrest at a prison in Sri Lanka's western coastal town of Negombo has risen to 27 after another inmate died while receiving treatment at Negombo Hospital, authorities said on Tuesday.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the violence began on Sunday following clashes between two rival inmate groups inside the overcrowded prison. Officials believe the confrontation involved a group allegedly linked to drug trafficking activities within the facility and another group opposing those operations.
More than 100 people were injured in the violence. Security has since been reinforced, with the Police Special Task Force (STF) and riot control units deployed to restore order and maintain stability at the prison.