• At least 27 people have died in a devastating prison riot in Sri Lanka.
• More than 100 others have been injured, with many suffering gunshot wounds.
• Violence erupted between rival drug gangs inside Negombo prison.
• Emergency responders and police have scaled up security in the area.
• The incident raises concerns over overcrowding in Sri Lankan prisons.

The violent clashes at Negombo prison, which began on Sunday, have led to a tragic death toll of at least 27, including seven prison guards. The unrest involved altercations between rival drug gangs and resulted in over 100 people being injured, many with serious injuries, according to SCMP and Africanews.

The prison was said to be holding around 10,000 inmates, significantly above its intended capacity, leading to serious tensions. Witness reports indicate that some inmates managed to seize weapons from guards and began firing during the chaos, according to Channel News Asia and India Times.

With the situation escalating, police and military forces were deployed to secure the perimeter of the prison, although no armed personnel entered the facility. Authorities are now conducting investigations into the circumstances that allowed the violence to unfold, as noted by Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, who stated that a comprehensive probe is underway, according to SCMP and India Times.

This incident brings renewed scrutiny to Sri Lanka's overcrowded prison system, which is reported to house inmates at four times the intended capacity, leading to heightened risks for violence and unrest within such facilities, as highlighted by Channel News Asia and Africanews.