Three prisoners were killed and at least 23 others injured as unrest continued across Sri Lanka’s overcrowded prison system, with disturbances reported at facilities in Colombo, Kuruwita and Negombo.
Police, special forces and riot squads were deployed to contain the incidents, while authorities said they were investigating whether the violence was coordinated and linked to narcotics dealers and rival criminal gangs.
One prisoner was killed after about 40 inmates broke out of their cells at New Magazine Prison in Colombo late on Thursday, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told parliament on Friday.
A second riot at Kuruwita prison, about 80 kilometres from the capital, left two more prisoners dead on Friday morning.
Police and special forces brought both disturbances under control, Wijepala said.
At an open prison in Negombo, about 40 kilometres from Colombo, police fired tear gas at protesting inmates to contain separate unrest on Friday.
Heavy police and riot squads were deployed at all three facilities.
Prisoners who had climbed onto rooftops or moved into open areas were returned to their wards.
Wijepala said the violence appeared connected to narcotics dealers and rival criminal gangs, while the government was examining whether the incidents had been planned together.
He said conclusions would depend on a comprehensive investigation.
The latest disturbances follow other deadly prison violence in recent weeks.
Ten prison officials and 20 prisoners died during two days of fighting at a Negombo prison in early July, while one inmate died and several others were injured during a riot at Mahara prison last weekend.
Sri Lanka’s prison system is operating far beyond its intended capacity.
Figures presented in the provided reports put the inmate population at more than 39,000, with Reuters reporting more than 41,000 prisoners across 22 facilities designed for about 11,000 people.
More than three-quarters of inmates are remand prisoners awaiting trial, many facing narcotics-related charges.
Sri Lanka is also planning a constitutional amendment extending superior court judges’ tenure by two years as part of efforts to clear a backlog exceeding one million court cases and reduce prisoner numbers.