Acting Prisons Chief describes Negombo Prison clash as ’brutal’ and ’barbaric’

Colombo, July 08 (Daily Mirror) - The Acting Commissioner General of Prisons Prasad Hemantha Kumara, has provided harrowing details regarding the violence that unfolded at the Negombo Prison, describing the behaviour of the inmates involved as "brutal" and "barbaric."

Speaking to the media, he revealed that the unrest turned critical as inmates launched vicious, targeted attacks against prison officers who had intervened to maintain order

Authorities have launched multiple investigations into the deadly violence that erupted at the Negombo Prison, which claimed 27 lives including seven prisons officers and left several persons seriously injured.

According to the Commissioner General, the first group of officers responding to the disturbance was overwhelmed by the assault and called for assistance. Additional prison officers then entered the prison despite the danger to rescue their colleagues and eventually succeeded in bringing the situation under control.

He said the level of violence displayed during the incident was unprecedented, describing the attacks on prison staff as exceptionally brutal.

He said that post-mortem examinations are being conducted at the Negombo Hospital to determine the exact causes of death.

Responding to questions from journalists, the Acting Commissioner General said they had received no prior intelligence indicating that violence was imminent. He said that prison officers had already been deployed in an effort to maintain stability, a move they believe helped limit the extent of the unrest.

He said the prison was fully secured by the evening of July 5, with inmates returned to their respective wards and provided meals ahead of scheduled court appearances the following day.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the violence began after several inmates allegedly consumed illicit narcotic pills, resulting in erratic and aggressive behaviour that rapidly escalated into a large-scale confrontation.

The acting Commissioner General also said that some female inmates had consumed these substances and made various allegations during the unrest.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that several high-level investigations have been initiated to establish the circumstances surrounding the violence.

Speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing, the Minister said a comprehensive inquiry is underway, including a three-member independent committee appointed following the latest Cabinet meeting. The committee consists of a retired Supreme Court judge, a representative from the Attorney General's Department, and a senior legal professional.

Minister Jayatissa has dismissed comparisons between the recent violence at Negombo Prison and the 2012 Welikada Prison riot, stating that the two incidents are fundamentally different in both nature and circumstances.

Addressing concerns during a media briefing, the Minister said that the nature of the latest event is completely different, clarifying that state authorities did not employ excessive force similar to past incidents.

His remarks came in response to questions from journalists regarding the need to appoint another independent committee to investigate the incident, despite previous commissions of inquiry into the 2012 Welikada and 2020 Mahara prison riots having already identified longstanding issues such as prison overcrowding and the prevalence of illicit drugs among inmates.

Dr. Jayatissa said the Negombo incident differed significantly from those events, explaining that the violence was marked by a severe and direct assault by inmates on prison officers who had intervened to restore order.

He said that prison personnel responding to the unrest came under sustained attack, resulting in multiple casualties and injuries among officers.

The Minister reiterated that the Government has established an independent committee to investigate the incident, while parallel investigations are also being conducted by law enforcement agencies and the Department of Prisons to determine the full circumstances surrounding the violence.