Sri Lanka Converts Hospital to Prison After Deadly Negombo Riot

A violent riot at Negombo Prison starting July 5, 2026, left 28 people dead, including 20 inmates and eight guards, and injured over 100 others. Authorities report the violence was triggered by clashes between rival drug gangs after some inmates leaked information about a smuggling ring to officials. Prisoners used bricks and poles to attack staff and disabled CCTV cameras, while guards responded with gunfire in self-defense. The deaths included a 73-year-old Indian national.

Harshana Nanayakkara, the Minister of Justice and National Integration, took responsibility for the security failure and announced an investigation by retired judges. To address critical overcrowding—where the Negombo facility held approximately 2,400 inmates despite a 650-person capacity—the government is implementing emergency measures. These include converting a disused hospital in Mahamodara, Galle, into a prison and reopening a colonial prison previously slated to become a hotel to house 2,000 inmates. Additional plans include building a new jail at a navy camp near Colombo and recruiting 1,300 staff members.

The United Nations and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka cited the tragedy as a result of systemic failures and outdated practices. Following the riot, nearly 1,200 inmates were transferred to other facilities, leading to allegations of torture and ill-treatment. Human rights advocates argue that physical expansion is insufficient and that the state must address the high rate of drug offenders, who comprise 65.5% of the prison population, through harm reduction and alternatives to incarceration.