Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara told Parliament that preliminary investigations suggest the deadly violence at Negombo Prison may have been triggered by a clash between two rival groups linked to the illegal drug trade, while emphasizing that investigations are still ongoing and no final conclusions have been reached.
According to the Minister, the initial clash erupted on July 5 between two groups of inmates, leaving two prisoners dead and 35 others injured. Although authorities restored order that evening, violence broke out again the following morning as inmates were being prepared for court appearances.
Nanayakkara said prison authorities believe the dispute may have involved inmates who had provided information to officials to prevent the smuggling of drugs and other contraband into the prison. He noted that such inmates are often targeted by criminal networks, making this one possible motive for the attack.
The Minister stressed that these findings are preliminary and that the final conclusions will depend on the ongoing investigation and the report of the committee appointed to probe the incident.
He further claimed that a small organized group deliberately destroyed CCTV cameras and a body scanner during the unrest, apparently to disable security systems used to detect contraband. He added that many inmates were not involved in the violence and that several innocent prisoners were among those injured.
Nanayakkara also said unarmed prison officers who attempted to restore order came under attack, with several officers losing their lives while trying to protect their colleagues. He warned that inmates had breached an iron gate and were advancing toward another exit, and that a successful escape could have posed a serious threat to public safety.
The Minister added that investigations are also underway to determine how some inmates obtained weapons during the prison unrest.
