Sri Lanka - July 2026

On 5 and 6 July, violent riots at Negombo Prison resulted in at least 32 deaths, including prisoners and prison officers, and more than 100 injuries. The violence marked Sri Lanka’s deadliest prison riot in recent years. The United Nations said the riot exposed longstanding structural problems, including severe overcrowding, prolonged pretrial detention and inadequate prison conditions, and called for a prompt, independent and transparent investigation. Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission opened an inquiry into the deaths and injuries during the riot, as well as the subsequent deaths and alleged ill-treatment of inmates moved from Negombo to other prisons. 

Sources:  OHCHR, BBC News, Amnesty International, Economy Next, OHCHR (2)