Sri Lanka's Deadliest Prison Clash Leaves 25 Dead at Negombo

Clashes at Negombo Prison north of Colombo on July 6 killed at least 25 people—five guards and 20 inmates—with over 100 wounded. The death toll climbed through the day as fresh violence erupted inside the facility. Guard casualties suggest either coordinated action by organized groups or rapid escalation beyond staff containment. Sri Lanka's prisons remain severely overcrowded despite past reform announcements, creating recurring conditions for violent outbreaks.