World Politics

At least 20 killed in clashes at Sri Lanka's Negombo prison

Filed Jul 6, 2026 · 07:00

Event Jul 5, 2026

# At least 20 killed in clashes at Sri Lanka's Negombo prison

> Fighting between inmates and guards at Negombo prison north of Colombo killed at least 20 people — 16 inmates and four guards — and wounded more than 100. The cause of the violence, which began Sunday and continued into Monday, was not immediately clear.

**Filed:** 2026-07-06 07:00 -0400  
**Event:** Jul 5, 2026  
**Category:** World Politics  
**Source:** Al Jazeera (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/6/at-least-19-people-killed-in-sri-lanka-prison-clashes)

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At least 20 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in clashes between inmates and guards at Negombo prison, about 35km (22 miles) north of Colombo, Sri Lankan authorities said. The Negombo hospital director reported receiving 23 bodies and over 100 injured; the dead included 16 inmates and four prison guards.

The violence began Sunday and continued into Monday. Police maintained a heavy presence at the prison gates and moved injured inmates out by bus, but a police spokesman did not detail what triggered the fighting. The casualty toll makes it one of the deadliest incidents in a Sri Lankan prison in years.

[Read the source](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/6/at-least-19-people-killed-in-sri-lanka-prison-clashes)

At least 20 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in clashes between inmates and guards at Negombo prison, about 35km (22 miles) north of Colombo, Sri Lankan authorities said. The Negombo hospital director reported receiving 23 bodies and over 100 injured; the dead included 16 inmates and four prison guards.

The violence began Sunday and continued into Monday. Police maintained a heavy presence at the prison gates and moved injured inmates out by bus, but a police spokesman did not detail what triggered the fighting. The casualty toll makes it one of the deadliest incidents in a Sri Lankan prison in years.

Read the source