A group of female inmates at the Negombo Prison are staging a rooftop protest following a clash between two groups of inmates earlier today (05).
Female inmates from the prison’s women’s ward climbed onto the roof of the facility and staged a protest in the aftermath of the incident, according to reports.
Shortly afterwards, male inmates also climbed onto the prison roof and launched a separate protest.
The unrest follows a violent clash earlier in the day between two groups of inmates, which has so far resulted in 35 prisoners being admitted to the Negombo Hospital.
Two inmates have been confirmed dead, while two others with serious injuries have been transferred to the Colombo National Hospital for further treatment.
Hospital sources said around ten injured inmates are scheduled to undergo surgery at the Negombo Hospital, while the remaining prisoners are receiving inpatient care.
Preliminary reports suggest the clash was triggered by an incident related to the exposure of a drug trafficking operation within the prison.
Police and the Special Task Force (STF) have been deployed to the prison to restore order and ensure security within the premises.
