Free Lawyers Sri Lanka has called on Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara to resign following the Negombo Prison unrest that claimed 26 lives, including seven prison officers and 19 inmates.

The organisation stated that overcrowding, weaknesses in prison management, and current remand practices contributed to the incident.

It also called for a transparent and independent investigation into the unrest and urged the government to implement prison reforms, review remand practices, and reduce overcrowding.