The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the appointment of a committee to conduct a formal and comprehensive investigation into the violent clashes within the Negombo Prison.

The committee has been tasked with examining the causes of the incident, recommending necessary corrective measures and proposing steps to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Retired Supreme Court Justice Priyantha Fernando has been appointed as the chair of the committee. The other members include retired Additional Solicitor General and President’s Counsel Milinda Gunathilaka and President’s Counsel Mohan Weerakoon.

The committee is expected to carry out a detailed investigation into all aspects of the incident and submit its report with recommendations to the government.

A total of 25 individuals died while around 100 others sustained injuries due to the renewed unrest at the Negombo Prison this morning.

Among them five are reportedly prison officials and twenty of them are prison inmates.

A tense situation was reported once again at the Negombo Prison this morning. 

Although the situation was brought under control by this morning following yesterday’s clashes between inmates, unrest has reportedly resurfaced at the prison.

A clash initially broke out between two groups of inmates at the Negombo Prison at around 1.00 p.m. yesterday.

Police stated that the confrontation occurred between a group of remand prisoners and a group of convicted inmates serving sentences.

Two inmates died in yesterday's clash, while 38 others sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at hospital.