The prison administration has decided that it is no longer suitable to keep inmates at the Negombo Prison premises following the unrest that occurred within the facility on July 5 and 6.

In a statement, the Ministry of Justice and National Integration said the Negombo Prison facility is being treated as a crime scene following the incident.

The prison complex has suffered extensive damage as a result of the violent incident.

Accordingly, authorities have temporarily transferred a large number of inmates held at the facility to other prison premises to allow investigators to conduct their work safely, ensure inmate security and facilitate the rapid commencement of reconstruction activities once investigations are completed.

The Justice Ministry said the decision was also made due to overcrowding in existing prisons and concerns regarding inmate welfare. As a result, arrangements have been made to relocate a number of inmates to other suitable facilities on a temporary basis.

The Ministry further stated that orders have been issued to designate the Mahamodara and Old Bogambara prison premises as temporary prisons under the provisions of the Prisons Ordinance until reconstruction work at the Negombo Prison is completed.

Authorities launched multiple investigations after a deadly outbreak of violence at the Negombo Prison left 28 people dead and more than 100 others injured, making it one of the deadliest prison disturbances in recent years.

A total of eight prison officers and 20 inmates have died in the clash between two groups of inmates at the Negombo Prison and the attack they carried out on unarmed prison officers.

Over 100 have been injured, while a large number of inmates have now been transferred to other prisons.