Death toll in Sri Lanka’s prison clash rises to 26, with another 77 in hospital

Death toll in Sri Lanka’s prison clash rises to 26, with another 77 in hospital 1 of 3 | security personnel stand guard in the compound of a prison where deadly clashes broke out on Sunday, in Negombo, 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of the capital Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo) 2 of 3 | A crowd of people wait outside a prison where deadly clashes broke out on Sunday, in Negombo, 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of the capital Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo) 3 of 3 | security personnel escort prisoners to a bus in the compound of a prison where deadly clashes broke out on Sunday, in Negombo, 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of the capital Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo) 1 of 3 | security personnel stand guard in the compound of a prison where deadly clashes broke out on Sunday, in Negombo, 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of the capital Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo) 1 of 3 security personnel stand guard in the compound of a prison where deadly clashes broke out on Sunday, in Negombo, 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of the capital Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 3 | A crowd of people wait outside a prison where deadly clashes broke out on Sunday, in Negombo, 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of the capital Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo) 2 of 3 A crowd of people wait outside a prison where deadly clashes broke out on Sunday, in Negombo, 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of the capital Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 3 | security personnel escort prisoners to a bus in the compound of a prison where deadly clashes broke out on Sunday, in Negombo, 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of the capital Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo) 3 of 3 security personnel escort prisoners to a bus in the compound of a prison where deadly clashes broke out on Sunday, in Negombo, 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of the capital Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Colombo, Sri Lanka (AP) — The death toll in Sri Lanka’s prison clash rose Tuesday to 26, including seven prison officials and 19 inmates, while the government announced that three separate investigations into the incident are underway.The unrest at the prison in Negombo, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of the capital, Colombo, started between inmatse on Sunday and turned violent on Monday after the inmates attacked the guards who intervened. Officials said the inmates even tried to break through the main gate, but were stopped.On Tuesday, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara called it a “tragic incident” and added that another 77 persons — 23 prison officials and 54 inmates — are still being treated in hospitals.The Minister did not specify the cause of the deaths and the nature of the injuries.Three different probes are underway into the incident, Nanayakkara told parliament, adding that a committee led by a retired judge is being set up in addition to the police probe and an internal investigation by the prison department. He said the investigations will look into what led to the clashes, “whether there were any security lapses or the congestion in the prisons caused this, and our responsibility is to prevent such incidents happening again.” 1 MIN READ 4 MIN READ 1 MIN READ The first clash erupted between two rival gangs connected to the illegal drug trade, Nanayakkara said. Once order was restored on Monday evening, the inmates who led the violence were transferred to other prisons, he said. On Tuesday, local television channel Hiru showed hundreds of relatives gathered outside the prison and hospital, seeking information about their loved ones. The relatives were crying and pleading for information.Security around the prison has been heightened with additional army troops and armed tanks also being deployed.Sri Lankan prisons are highly congested, with more than 39,000 inmates crowded into a system with a total capacity of just 10,000.