Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara has informed Parliament that inmates involved in the Negombo Prison unrest obtained weapons, broke through an iron gate, and emerged from the prison compound.

He stated that the group had attempted to disrupt the mechanism used to prevent narcotics and other illegal items from entering the prison.

The Minister noted that two unarmed prison officers were initially attacked before other officers intervened.

He further stated that most of the prison officers who died were assaulted with bricks and poles during the violence.