  
A 98-page report released by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has revealed that prison authorities failed to effectively contain and resolve the violent clashes that erupted at Negombo Prison on July 5 and 6. The unrest resulted in severe casualties, claiming the lives of 10 officers attached to the Prison Emergency Response Tactical Unit and 22 inmates, while leaving 17 other prison officers injured and in need of hospitalization after being subjected to brutal attacks by inmates.
Regarding the use of force, the inquiry revealed that while prison officers discharged firearms in an effort to regain control, armed personnel from the Sri Lanka Police and the Special Task Force (STF) present at the scene did not open fire. The HRCSL noted that insufficient evidence currently exists to reach a definitive conclusion regarding the shootings or the exact circumstances surrounding the inmates’ deaths. However, with court proceedings underway concerning the fatalities, the findings indicate that upcoming judicial decisions could open the path for formal legal action against those responsible.
The investigation also addressed serious allegations that inmates transferred to other correctional facilities in the wake of the unrest were subsequently assaulted. HRCSL officials visited the relevant facilities, recorded statements, and found indications that prison officers had assaulted certain inmates. Consequently, the Commission directed that the affected prisoners be produced before Judicial Medical Officers and instructed the Commissioner General of Prisons to conduct formal inquiries and institute preventive measures.
Key Developments
- The HRCSL submitted a 98-page findings report to relevant Ministers and Ministry Secretaries documenting institutional failures to de-escalate the July 5–6 Negombo Prison violence.
- The clashes left 10 Prison Emergency Response Tactical Unit officers and 22 inmates dead, alongside 17 hospitalized officers.
- Evidence confirmed prison officers fired weapons, whereas stationed Sri Lanka Police and STF officers did not discharge their firearms.
- The Commissioner General of Prisons appointed an internal committee to investigate post-clash assaults against transferred inmates, with the HRCSL demanding disciplinary action against culpable staff.
- The Commission recommended establishing a dedicated special committee to formulate preventive measures alongside the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration and the Commissioner General of Prisons.
The HRCSL emphasized that the internal investigation initiated by the Commissioner General of Prisons must definitively identify the perpetrators of post-transfer assaults and ensure strict disciplinary action is executed against any culpable officers upon the inquiry’s conclusion.