The death toll from the violent clashes within the Negombo Prison has risen to 26, the Minister of Justice, Harshana Nanayakkara stated.
The Justice Minister noted that the deceased include seven prison officers and 19 inmates.
He added that 23 prison officers and 54 inmates are currently receiving treatment in hospital.
Minister Nanayakkara also said that CCTV systems and a body scanner at the prison were completely destroyed during the unrest.
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said that disrupting prison operations appeared to be the primary objective of inmates involved in the violent clash at the Negombo Prison.
The Minister said a group of inmates identified as being at the centre of the violence had been transferred to Agunukolapelessa and Welikada prisons.
He said the situation had now been brought under control to a certain extent, adding that the government was deeply shocked by the incident.
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara today visited the Negombo Prison in the aftermath of the violent clashes within the premises.
Minister Harshana Nanayakkara also expressed deep shock and sorrow over the violent clash at the Negombo Prison, stating he accepts responsibility for the incident as it occurred within an institution under his purview.
Speaking to media, the Justice Minister said the unrest has now been brought under control, but stressed that the loss of any life could not be justified and steps must be taken to prevent a recurrence.
He said the clash was between two organised groups within the prison, adding that prison officials had acted to restore order during the incident.
“There is deep shock over the loss of human lives. I extend my condolences to the families of the deceased. We must go to the site, investigate what happened, and ensure that such incidents do not happen again. This is not about blaming anyone,” the Minister said.
Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said it was now important to examine how the incident occurred, identify any failures, and take swift corrective action.
“Instead of regret alone, we must understand how this happened, where the issue lies, and whether anyone acted improperly. We need to ensure these incidents do not recur,” he said.
The Minister added that while such incidents can occur, they cannot be justified or taken lightly, particularly when lives have been lost, and said further investigations were necessary.
