Negombo Prison unrest causes over 100 million rupees in property damage

Property damage caused by the July unrest at Negombo Prison has exceeded 100 million rupees, the Department of Prisons said on Monday.

Clashes between two groups of inmates at Negombo Prison on July 5 caused extensive damage to prison property and inmate registration records.

A total of 32 people died and more than 100 others were injured in the unrest.

Following the unrest in Negombo, the country saw several other riots in the following weeks.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake chaired a special meeting at the Presidential Secretariat on Aug. 7 to review prison security and inmate safety. Officials decided to establish a joint mechanism involving prison authorities, police, the Special Task Force and, when necessary, the armed forces to cover all 33 prisons and coordinate responses to inmate welfare issues and emergencies.