19 killed, over 100 injured in Sri Lanka prison violence

The fatalities include four prison officials who lost their lives while responding to the unrest, along with 15 inmates

COLOMBO: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-July 6th, 2026) At least 19 people, including four prison officers and 15 inmates, were killed and more than 100 others injured after violent clashes broke out between rival groups inside a prison in Sri Lanka's coastal city of Negombo, authorities said on Monday.

More than 100 inmates sustained injuries during the violence and were shifted to hospitals in Negombo for treatment. Prisoners suffering from critical injuries are being transferred to medical facilities in the capital, Colombo, for specialised care.

The incident is among the deadliest episodes of prison violence reported in Sri Lanka in recent years and has raised concerns over security and inmate management within the country's correctional facilities.

The officials said that the unrest began on Sunday when two groups of prisoners engaged in a violent confrontation inside Negombo Prison. Prison authorities managed to bring the situation under control later that night, but fresh clashes erupted on Monday, resulting in significant casualties.

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The fatalities include four prison officials who lost their lives while responding to the unrest, along with 15 inmates.

Security personnel were deployed to restore order, and the situation has since been brought under control. Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the clashes or what triggered the violence between the two inmate groups.

Sri Lankan authorities have launched an investigation into the incident to determine the circumstances behind the deadly confrontation. The inquiry will examine the sequence of events, possible security lapses and the factors that led to the violence.

Officials said further details would be released after the investigation progresses and the identities of those killed are formally confirmed. Meanwhile, several of the injured remain in critical condition as they continue to receive medical treatment.