<ul><li>19&nbsp; inmates, seven Prison officers killed in renewed violence</li><li>Nearly 100 injured as security forces regain control</li><li>Prisoners being transferred; SLAF drones monitor situation</li><li>Cabinet appoints probe led by Justice Priyantha Fernando</li></ul>﻿&nbsp;At least 26 people, including seven Prison officers and 19 inmates, were killed yesterday (6) after fresh violence erupted inside the Negombo Prison, just a day after an earlier clash had claimed two lives, bringing the death toll from two days of unrest to 27.Nearly 100 people were injured and admitted to the Negombo General Hospital, with Hospital Director Dr Pushpa Gamlath confirming the fatalities. Eight of the seriously injured were later transferred to the National Hospital in Colombo for specialised treatment.The renewed unrest broke out around 10:00 a.m. after inmates allegedly attempted to force their way through the Prison's main entrance following a confrontation between rival groups in the male ward.According to Prisons Commissioner and Media Spokesperson A C Gajanayake, the violence began while Prison officers were distributing breakfast to inmates. Officers who intervened to stop the fighting were allegedly attacked and chased towards the Prison's main entrance before some inmates attempted to breach the main gate, prompting officers to use the minimum force necessary to restore order.Police, the Police Special Task Force (STF) and additional security personnel were deployed to contain the violence, while several gunshots were fired during the operation. Security forces later entered the Prison compound and succeeded in regaining control.The Sri Lanka Air Force deployed two surveillance drones and a Bell 412 helicopter to monitor the situation from the air, while additional military personnel were stationed around the Prison to reinforce security.Authorities have also begun transferring inmates to other prisons in an effort to reduce tensions and restore normalcy.Outside the Prison, an estimated 2,500 relatives and loved ones gathered throughout the day demanding information on those killed and injured, saying they had received no official confirmation of the identities of the casualties.The latest bloodshed followed a clash between remand prisoners and convicted inmates on 5 July, which left two inmates dead and 38 injured.Police said preliminary investigations indicate the earlier violence was triggered by a dispute over the exposure of a drug trafficking operation within the Prison.Investigators are also probing allegations that an inmate known as "Suresh", believed to have close links to organised crime figure "Booru Moona", orchestrated the clash between rival groups of inmates.Following Sunday’s violence, female inmates staged a rooftop protest before a separate group of male inmates also climbed onto the roof in protest. Four inmates were later injured when part of the roof collapsed and were admitted to Hospital.Relatives of inmates also protested outside the Prison, accusing authorities of failing to provide information about those inside. Police later facilitated visits by a group of relatives to inmates receiving treatment at the Negombo General Hospital.Gajanayake said the latest violence was confined to the male section of the Prison and stemmed from clashes between rival groups linked to organised crime and drug-related activities. The female section was not directly involved in the fighting despite the separate protest by female inmates.Appealing to relatives to remain calm, he said Prison authorities were taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of those in custody. He added that the Negombo Prison currently houses approximately 2,400 inmates.Meanwhile, the Cabinet yesterday approved the appointment of a three-member committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the deadly incident.The committee has been tasked with determining the causes of the violence, recommending action against those responsible and proposing measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.Retired Supreme Court Justice Priyantha Fernando will chair the committee, with retired Additional Solicitor General and President's Counsel Milinda Gunatilleke and President's Counsel Mohan Weerakoon serving as members.Separately, the Prisons Commissioner General has appointed a special internal investigation team to inquire into Saturday's clash.Police, the STF and riot control units remained deployed at the Prison last evening as investigations continued and authorities worked to restore normalcy.&nbsp;With inputs from Aneesha Manage reporting from Negombo&nbsp;

Negombo Prison erupts again

<ul><li>Claims Govt responsible for institutional inefficiency&nbsp;</li><li>Prisoners rights group blames ‘highhandedness’ of Prisons Dept&nbsp;</li><li>Justice Minister ‘shocked and saddened’&nbsp;</li></ul> Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, called yesterday (6) for an independent and transparent investigation into the deadly violence that erupted at the Negombo Prison, saying the Government must be held accountable for the loss of life.&nbsp;Speaking to reporters, Premadasa said the deaths and injuries resulting from the unrest pointed to a breakdown in the Prison administration and institutional inefficiency. He said the current administration should take responsibility for the incident, noting that the President had previously maintained, while in the Opposition, that governments should be held accountable for deaths occurring inside prisons.&nbsp;Premadasa also said the Government had come to power promising systemic change, but argued that the incident at the Prison highlighted the continued failure of the existing system. He questioned the Government's ability to maintain law and order and ensure effective Prison administration.Premadasa further said the inability to uphold a humane Prison management system is a matter of serious concern and urged the Government to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident, noting that the public is closely monitoring the developments.Meanwhile, the Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) claimed the violence at the prison escalated because of the arrogant response of the Prisons Department, particularly its failure to provide timely information to inmates' families and allow prisoners to communicate with their relatives following the tensions on 5 July.&nbsp;Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (6), CPRP’s President, Senaka Perera said the situation could have been brought under control earlier if the authorities had acted appropriately.&nbsp;"This situation could have been controlled, but they failed to do so. The relatives of inmates were waiting for the Department to provide some information about their family members on 5 July, but that never happened. The inmates themselves expected to be given an opportunity to speak to their relatives, but they were not given that opportunity either," he said.&nbsp;Perera alleged that the Department's handling of the situation only aggravated tensions. "The Department acted in a very arrogant manner. A group of Police officers who suited that approach also arrived at the scene. Instead of listening to the concerns of the inmates' relatives, they tried to drive them away. It was like pouring fuel on a fire. The Prisons Department and the Government must take responsibility for what happened," he said. Referring to the situation on 5 July, Perera said tensions had eased to some extent by the time CPRP representatives visited the Prison, but claimed security personnel and Prison officials behaved as though the CPRP had contributed to the unrest.&nbsp;"When we went there, the security forces and Prison officials behaved as if we had created the situation," he alleged. He also claimed that the families of inmates were subjected to unnecessary hardship while trying to obtain information about their relatives. "When the relatives asked about the inmates, the Department told them to go to the Hospital. When they went to the Hospital, they were told to bring a letter from the Prison. Families were sent from one place to another and put through unnecessary difficulties," he said. He further alleged the Government had still failed to properly recognise the seriousness of the crisis, dismissing the appointment of investigative committees as ineffective. "Appointing committees is a joke. Committees have been appointed since 2012. These appointments only waste public money." &nbsp; Attempts to contact the Justice Minister, attorney Harshana Nanayakkara, the Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala, and Prisons Spokesperson A C Gajanayake proved futile. His remarks came after 25 individuals, including Prison officers and inmates, had been killed in violence at the Prison yesterday. Police stated that the dead included Prison officers while nearly 100 people were reportedly injured. The unrest followed a clash between two groups of inmates on 5 July, in which two prisoners were killed and 38 others were injured.&nbsp;However, Nanayakkara expressed shock and sadness over the violent clash at the Prison, which resulted in the deaths of 25 individuals. Speaking on the incident, he said the unrest had occurred within an institution under his purview and that he therefore had to take responsibility for the situation. He said the situation at the Prison had now been brought under control, adding that the loss of any life was unacceptable and that measures must be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.&nbsp;“There is deep shock over the loss of human lives. I extend my condolences to the families of those who died. We will visit the site, assess what has happened, and ensure that such incidents do not recur. This is not about blaming anyone,” he said.Nanayakkara also said that closed circuit television camera systems and a body scanner at the Prison were completely destroyed during the unrest.Nanayakkara said that disrupting Prison operations appeared to be the primary objective of the inmates involved in the violent clash at the Prison.He said that a group of inmates identified as being at the centre of the violence had been transferred to the Agunukolapelessa and Welikada Prisons.

Negombo Prison clash: Sajith calls for independent probe 

Several hospitals across the Western Province have reached the maximum capacity due to the sharp rise in dengue patients, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).&nbsp;Acting NDCU Director Dr Kapila Kannangara said the rapid increase in cases has placed severe pressure on hospitals, making it increasingly difficult to provide adequate care for patients.&nbsp;He warned that if the number of infections continues to rise, the dengue-related death toll is also likely to increase proportionately.Commenting on the current situation, Dr Kannangara stated that 52.4 per cent of the country's 59,638 reported dengue cases have been recorded from the WP. In response, the authorities have identified 22 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Divisions with the highest number of dengue cases across the three Districts of the WP. A week-long special dengue control programme is currently being carried out in these high-risk areas. He said that the progress of the programme will be reviewed at the end of the week, following which the authorities will decide on further measures.&nbsp;Dr&nbsp; Kannangara also noted that a three-phase strategy comprising short-term, medium-term, and long-term measures has been prepared to manage the outbreak. However, he stressed that priority is currently being given to emergency short-term interventions, as the outbreak has reached a critical stage and many hospitals are operating at full capacity, placing the healthcare system under significant strain."The current increase in dengue cases is extremely serious. Many hospitals have already reached their maximum capacity, creating major challenges in caring for patients. If the number of cases continues to rise, the number of deaths is also likely to increase proportionately," Dr Kannangara warned.The total number of dengue cases reported in Sri Lanka so far this year has increased to 61,060. According to the NDCU, 2,604 new dengue cases have been reported during the past 24 hours (5 July). The WP has recorded the highest number of cases, accounting for 32,054 infections, or 52.5% of the total.&nbsp;

Dengue reaches critical stage: Hospitals reach maximum capacity 

<ul><li>1,000 archaeological sites to be conserved</li></ul>All arrangements have been finalised to launch the national programme to conserve 1,000 archaeological sites across Sri Lanka, alongside the commencement of the Archaeology Week, which begins today (7).&nbsp;Speaking on the initiative, Deputy Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister, Gamagedara Dissanayake said the programme aims to identify sites of historical and archaeological significance and expedite excavation, research, and conservation efforts. Under the project, a total of 1,000 archaeological sites are scheduled to be conserved. As the first phase, work will begin on 100 identified sites during the Archaeology Week programme.&nbsp;He also announced that "Community Conservation Committees" will be established in areas surrounding the identified sites to encourage greater public participation in protecting the country's archaeological heritage. Recommendations and proposals submitted by these committees will be implemented with the guidance and direct involvement of technical officers from the Archaeology Department.The 2026 Archaeology Week will be held under the theme “Bringing Heritage to Life”, reflecting the Government's commitment to preserving and revitalising Sri Lanka's archaeological and historical heritage through community engagement and scientific conservation.Dissanayake noted that public commitment and involvement in protecting archaeological sites have remained limited. To address this, he said that the Government plans to officially designate identified locations as archaeological sites and establish Community Conservation Committees with the participation of local residents.&nbsp;"Through these committees, we will obtain proposals and suggestions on whether excavation, research, or conservation work should be carried out at each site," he said, adding that all activities will be undertaken with the technical guidance and direct involvement of officers from the Department. He further expressed confidence that greater community engagement would strengthen efforts to safeguard the country's archaeological heritage.&nbsp;"We believe that when local communities become actively involved with these sites, we will be better able to achieve our goal of protecting them. It is with this objective in mind that we have organised these initiatives as part of the Archaeology Week," he said.

Urumayata Jeevayak: Heritage to life programme kicks off today

The Opposition's request for a Parliamentary debate on matters pertaining to the Judiciary, including vacancies in the Superior Courts (Supreme Court and Court of Appeal), has failed to gain approval as it is repeatedly opposed by the Ruling Party at the Committee on Parliamentary Business, Chief Opposition Whip, Gayantha Karunathilleka alleged.Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (6), he said the Opposition had repeatedly sought the debate, but the Government had consistently rejected the request. "When we requested this debate in Parliament during the last Parliamentary week, the Speaker of Parliament did not grant it. He instead passed the matter on to the Parliamentary Business Committee. At the Business Committee, the Ruling Party opposed it as usual."The comments come after Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne recently declined the Opposition's request to hold an urgent Parliamentary debate under Standing Order (SO) 19(1) on delays in the administration of justice and issues affecting the Judiciary.&nbsp;On 23 June, Opposition Parliamentarian and attorney Ajith P Perera told Parliament that a motion seeking the debate had been submitted that morning with the support of 20 Opposition MPs. He said that serious issues relating to delays in the administration of justice and several related matters required an urgent Parliamentary discussion.&nbsp;He requested that Parliament allocate two hours for the debate after the day's scheduled business, maintaining that it would not disrupt the Government's agenda. However, following heated arguments between the Speaker, the Ruling Party, and the Opposition regarding the latter's request, Speaker Wickramaratne informed the House that the motion submitted under SO 19(1) would instead be referred to the next meeting of the Business Committee for consideration.

Opposition claims: ‘NPP blocking Parliament debate on Judiciary’  

<ul><li> </li><li>Welfare assistance in monetary form to continue&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul> The Government is aiming to lift all current Aswesuma beneficiaries out of poverty by 2030, with welfare assistance continuing to be provided to those who remain in need even after the programme is eventually phased out, Deputy Social Security and Community Empowerment Minister Wasantha Piyathissa said.Speaking to The Daily Morning, he said the Government plans to discontinue the Aswesuma welfare programme entirely by 2030. However, he noted that ending the programme would not necessarily mean that poverty no longer exists.&nbsp;"The Aswesuma programme may come to an end, there could still be poor people even after that. That is why we are implementing empowerment programmes for them," he said. He added that the Government's objective is to ensure that all existing Aswesuma beneficiaries are lifted out of poverty by 2030 through a combination of welfare assistance and empowerment initiatives. "Our intention is to free all these people from poverty by 2030. To achieve that objective, we are launching different types of empowerment initiatives in addition to the provision of monetary allowances." The Welfare Benefits Board is currently preparing to implement the second phase of the Aswesuma programme, under which payments will be limited to households classified as poor and extremely poor. Introduced in 2023, the programme initially covered nearly 1.6 million beneficiaries across four categories, with payments to the transitional and vulnerable categories having already been phased out.

Poverty eradication: Aswesuma to be phased out by 2030

The restriction imposed on the use of rice and paddy for the production of animal feed has been lifted.&nbsp;Accordingly, a gazette notification issued previously restricting the use of rice and paddy for animal feed production has been revoked, the Consumer Affairs Authority said. According to the new gazette, all restrictions on the use of rice or paddy for the production of animal feed have been removed.&nbsp;This includes the use of rice and paddy in the processing, sale, purchase, transport, storage and distribution for animal feed purposes. The earlier restrictions were in effect until 24 June, but have now been formally lifted. With the revocation, the use of rice and paddy in animal feed production is once again permitted under the updated regulation.

Restrictions lifted: Rice-paddy once again for animal feed-making 

The Deputy Controller (Administration) of the Immigration and Emigration Department was arrested yesterday (6) by the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau over allegations of assisting in the issuance of a forged foreign passport.&nbsp;Police said the suspect was taken into custody in connection with an ongoing investigation. According to the investigators, the senior official is accused of facilitating the issuance of a passport without proper verification by accepting an application in which the photograph of a deported organised crime suspect from Chennai, India, was allegedly linked to another individual’s personal details.&nbsp;The suspect, a 51-year-old resident of Matara, was arrested following inquiries conducted by the Bureau. The investigation was launched based on instructions issued by a Magistrate in a case currently being heard before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

Aiding forged passport: Deputy Immigration Controller arrested 

<ul><li>Heavy rains from Oct-Dec</li></ul> The Meteorology Department forecast a drought from January of next year to April, while clarifying that the impending El Niño phenomenon will not necessarily result solely in dry conditions, but rather a combination of both drought and heavy rainfall.Speaking to the media yesterday (6), Director General of the Department, Ajith Wijemannage said that given the fact the coming El Niño is predicted to be one of the worst of all time, the Department expects that it will reduce rainfall in January 2027, with a drought anticipated until April of the same year.&nbsp;He further mentioned that what the country is currently experiencing is the first stage, which is the weakened stage of an El Niño, and that if El Niño breaks out, it could last up to nine months. He predicted that the heat index could reach unbearable levels under the given scenario. He also warned that rainfall during the South West Monsoon could be reduced.&nbsp;He noted that during next month (in August), the country typically receives relatively low rainfall, and that this could decrease even further in the wake of El Niño. According to him, at the beginning of September, rain cannot be expected, but that towards the end of September, rainfall would occur. He further added that heavy rains can be expected in the months of October, November, and sometimes in December as well.

Negombo Prison erupts again

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