The UN Human Rights Office has described the recent outbreak of deadly violence at a Sri Lanka jail in Negombo as “deeply alarming,” calling on authorities to establish the truth behind the deaths and injuries of inmates and prison officers.
In a statement issued by a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, the organization said the families of the dozens killed and injured in the violence deserved to know what happened and see accountability for the incidents. The statement also referred to reports of reprisals against inmates by guards at other prisons following the unrest.
The UN Human Rights Office said the violence highlighted wider structural concerns affecting detention in Sri Lanka, including prolonged pre-trial detention, overcrowding and inadequate conditions in prison facilities.
The statement noted that a disproportionate number of people in detention are held for drug-related offences, adding that many of those cases should be addressed through health-centred responses rather than imprisonment. The office said these broader detention issues required urgent attention in the wake of the violence.
Sri Lankan authorities have pledged to conduct investigations into the incidents, a move welcomed by the UN Human Rights Office. However, the organization stressed that the investigations must be prompt, independent and transparent.
The UN Human Rights Office also called on authorities to provide the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka with unrestricted access to Negombo prison and other detention facilities. The request includes access to locations where prisoners were transferred following the violence and where allegations of torture and other forms of ill-treatment have been reported.
The statement did not provide further details on the reported violence, including the circumstances surrounding the deaths and injuries, but emphasized the need for official investigations and accountability measures.
The UN Human Rights Office’s comments come as attention remains focused on conditions inside Sri Lanka’s detention system, with the organization linking the recent incidents to longstanding concerns over overcrowding, delays in legal proceedings and the treatment of detainees.
Authorities’ investigations into the prison incidents are expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the violence and address allegations related to the treatment of inmates following the unrest.
