Sri Lanka announced plans to convert a disused hospital into a new prison facility following a deadly riot that resulted in the deaths of 20 inmates and eight guards at an overcrowded jail. The Justice Ministry made the announcement on Wednesday amid growing concerns about the country’s prison overcrowding issues.
The violence erupted on Sunday at Negombo Prison, located north of the capital, Colombo, when clashes broke out between rival gangs. The riot left 28 people dead and more than 100 others injured, with some still in critical condition. The incident is considered one of the deadliest prison riots in Sri Lanka in recent years.
Official figures indicate that prisons across the country are operating at approximately four times their intended capacity, exacerbating tensions within the facilities. In response to the unrest, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara ordered the takeover of a section of the Mahamodera Hospital in Galle District, in the island’s south, for conversion into a prison to help alleviate overcrowding in existing jails.
“We need to set up security measures and other essentials to start the new prison at Mahamodera in Galle District,” a ministry official said, though no specific timeline for the conversion was provided.
The lethal riot has renewed scrutiny of Sri Lanka’s detention conditions, which international observers say are plagued by overcrowding, outdated practices, and poor infrastructure. A statement from the United Nations office in Colombo following the riot emphasized that such challenges have long affected Sri Lanka’s prison system.
The incident also evoked memories of a December 2020 riot during the Covid-19 pandemic, when confrontations at another prison resulted in 11 inmate fatalities and over 100 injuries. That episode prompted the government to release hundreds of prisoners in an effort to reduce overcrowding.
On Wednesday, the coffins of the eight guards who died were brought to the prison department headquarters in Colombo, where colleagues paid their respects. Authorities continue to investigate the causes of the riot and explore measures to prevent further violence in the country’s correctional facilities.