• Some stage rooftop protest as Police and STF deployed
• Prison rights group blames overcrowding, staff shortages and untreated drug addiction 

Two inmates were killed and 29 others injured in a clash between rival groups at the Negombo Prison yesterday (5), prompting authorities to tighten security. 

Preliminary information indicates the violence was sparked by the exposure of a drug trafficking operation inside the prison. 

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday evening, the Police Media Division stated that the clash had left two inmates dead and 29 injured. 

Two of the seriously injured inmates were later transferred to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo for further treatment.

Hospital sources stated that 10 of the injured inmates were due to undergo surgery at the Negombo Hospital, while the remaining injured prisoners continue to receive treatment there.

Following the violence, a group of female inmates and several other prisoners climbed onto the prison roof and launched a protest.

Police and the Police Special Task Force have been deployed to the prison to bring the situation under control and strengthen security around the premises.

Authorities are continuing investigations into the incident.

Meanwhile, when contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (5), President of the Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP), attorney-at-law Senaka Perera, said that the unrest at Negombo Prison reflects long-standing problems within Sri Lanka's prison system, particularly severe overcrowding, staff shortages and the lack of rehabilitation for drug-dependent inmates.

He said overcrowding has reached a point where even access to basic facilities, including washrooms, has become a source of tension among prisoners. "There is competition even to use the washrooms. When people are forced to live under such conditions, the possibility of conflict naturally increases. That could also be one of the reasons behind this situation."

Perera said that the number of prison officers was also inadequate, making it difficult to properly manage inmates and carry out routine duties. "The number of officers on duty is far below what is required. Because of that, some responsibilities may not be carried out effectively. What we have today is a prison system that is in a dilapidated state, and ultimately it is the people who suffer."

He also said that around 65 per cent of the prison population consists of people with drug addiction, claiming that many require treatment rather than incarceration. "These individuals need medical care, not imprisonment. If they are directed towards treatment and rehabilitation, it would also help ease overcrowding in prisons."

Multiple attempts to contact Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, Prisons Spokesperson A C Gajanayaka, and Police Spokesperson and Assistant Superintendent of Police F U Wootler proved futile.