Sri Lanka prisons: UN urges access after deadly violence

The UN rights office urged Sri Lanka to grant the country's Human Rights Commission “unfettered access” to prisons after deadly violence at an overcrowded facility.

Sri Lanka says it has launched an investigation into clashes Sunday between rival gangs at Negombo Prison, north of Colombo, that killed 20 inmates and eight guards.

UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani welcomed the pledge to investigate but said the probes must be prompt, independent and transparent. She described the violence and “reports of reprisals against inmates by guards at other prisons” as “deeply alarming”.

Shamdasani called on Sri Lankan authorities to grant the rights commission access to Negombo and all other prisons, including detention facilities where prisoners were transferred and allegedly subjected to torture and other ill-treatment.

She said the violence underscored the urgency of tackling prolonged pre-trial detention, overcrowding and inadequate conditions in Sri Lanka's detention facilities.