The death toll from the recent unrest at Negombo prison in Sri Lanka has climbed to 25, with nearly 100 people injured in the incident. Hospital officials at Negombo General Hospital reported that many of the deceased and injured suffered severe gunshot wounds. The violence erupted when a group of inmates allegedly launched an organized attack in the prison, prompting security forces to open fire to control the situation.
The latest clashes occurred after authorities had briefly restored order following a previous outbreak of unrest. Sri Lanka’s Minister of Justice, Harshana Nanayakkara, expressed shock and sorrow over the violence at the prison. He acknowledged responsibility for the incident, emphasizing the need to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Nanayakkara stated that efforts were made to bring the situation under control and restore order during the unrest.
Minister Nanayakkara stressed the importance of investigating the incident, identifying any shortcomings, and implementing corrective actions to prevent future incidents. He highlighted the need to understand the root causes of the unrest and ensure accountability. Nanayakkara expressed condolences to the families of the victims and emphasized the significance of learning from the incident to prevent its recurrence.
