Key facts
- A riot at Negombo prison in Sri Lanka resulted in 28 deaths, including 20 inmates and 8 prison officials.
- The prison was holding 2,400 inmates, far exceeding its capacity of 650, contributing to the violence.
- Sri Lankan prisons are operating at nearly 400% capacity, housing about 41,000 people.
- Human rights advocates are calling for international best practices to address the chronic overcrowding.
- Measures to reduce overcrowding include reopening a closed colonial jail, recruiting new staff, and considering house arrest for low-risk prisoners.
Sri Lanka is implementing measures to address severe prison overcrowding following a deadly riot that claimed 28 lives, including 20 inmates and eight prison officials. The violence at Negombo prison, which was holding 2,400 inmates against a capacity of 650, highlights a chronic issue across the nation's 22 jails, which collectively house approximately 41,000 people, nearly 400% over their intended capacity.
Human rights advocates described the overcrowding as extreme, with prisoners resorting to sleeping "salmon packing" and women having to sleep inside toilets. The surge in drug offenders, from 9,344 in 2021 to 31,314 in 2024, has significantly exacerbated the problem, now accounting for 65.5% of the total prison population.
To combat this, the government plans to recruit around 1,300 prison staff, though recruitment has been slow due to bureaucratic hurdles and the unappealing nature of the job. In a reversal of previous plans, a closed colonial-era prison will be reopened to house approximately 2,000 inmates. Additionally, a section of a closed hospital in Galle will be repurposed, and a new jail is slated for construction near Colombo. The Ministry of Justice is also reviewing legislation to allow house arrest for low-risk remand prisoners, a move supported by advocates who stress the need for evidence-based treatment options and harm reduction services to reduce incarceration rates.