Another court hearing related to the conflict that occurred inside the Negombo Prison on July 5 and 6 was taken up yesterday (17/09/2026). During the hearing, 25 female inmates of the Negombo Women’s Prison were produced before Negombo Chief Magistrate Ms. Sheelani Perera’s chambers under charges of causing damage to public property, following which all of them were ordered to be remanded until September 22.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) requested the court to file charges against these female suspects under the Public Property Act and to remand them until the conclusion of the case. The CID informed the court that post-mortem examinations of all individuals who died during the incident have been completed and the relevant reports have been submitted to court. However, it was also revealed during the proceedings that reports on case productions sent to the Government Analyst’s Department have not yet been received.
Heated situations arising during the court proceedings
Appearing on behalf of the aggrieved party, Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera, Chairman of the Prisoners’ Rights Protection Association, making submissions before the court stated:
”Your Honor, I raised this matter on the previous occasion as well. We saw shooting through the doors and windows. Now cases are even being filed under Section 296 [murder]. I do not know how they are proceeding regarding this. I request that these investigations be expedited. Justice must be served for the deceased officers as well as the deceased inmates.”
In response, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers stated that over 300 firearms have been taken into custody and that appropriate action will be taken once the relevant reports are received.
Broader investigations and next steps
Officers informed the court that 106 suspects have been named so far, out of whom 81 are males and 25 are females. 81 suspects have been produced for an identification parade. Noting that this conflict is a special legal case that has drawn intense public attention, Chief Magistrate Ms. Sheelani Perera ordered the registrar of the court to issue a reminder to the Government Analyst’s Department to expedite the analyst reports for case productions, including firearms sent to them.
Other orders requested by the CID were also issued by the Chief Magistrate, including an order to remand all 106 suspects until September 22, and to produce the remaining suspects who are not brought to the physical parade before the court via WhatsApp technology.
This further report was submitted to the court by a team of officers including Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Chandana Kaluarachchi of the CID’s Commercial Crime Investigation Division (01), Chief Inspector Karunatilleke, Sub-Inspector Dulitha Maduranga, Sub-Inspector Madusanka, and Women Sub-Inspector Dilini.
The conflict that broke out in the Negombo Prison on July 5 and 6 resulted in the deaths of 10 prison officers and 22 inmates, while over 100 people sustained injuries. The CID is conducting investigations into the incident, and the case has been filed under the Public Property Act, the Firearms Ordinance, and charges of murder.
The case regarding the Negombo Prison clash is scheduled to be recalled on September 22.
Note by: Thushara Rohan Fernando
Photographs by: Akila Nadieshani Bandara