Negombo jail violence reaches UN ears

Colombo, July 11 (Daily Mirror) - In response to prison riots in Negombo, UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said that the outbreak of deadly violence at the jail and the reports of reprisals against inmates by guards at other prisons are deeply alarming.

Making remarks on the incident, the spokesperson said that the families of the dozens who were killed and injured, including inmates and prison officers, deserve to know the truth and to see accountability.

“We welcome that the authorities have pledged to carry out investigations into these incidents. They must be prompt, independent and transparent. The violence also underscores the urgency of tackling structural concerns around detention in Sri Lanka,” the spokesperson said.

Such concerns include prolonged pretrial detention, overcrowding and inadequate conditions in detention facilities. A disproportionate number of people are also detained for drug-related offences, many of whom should benefit from health-centred responses as opposed to incarceration, according to the spokesperson.

“We urge the authorities to grant the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka unfettered access to Negombo and to all other detention facilities, including prisons, where the prisoners were transferred and allegedly subjected to torture and other forms of ill treatment,” she said.