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Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has held the government responsible for the deadly violence at Negombo Prison, saying the incident which has claimed at least 25 lives could have been prevented.

In a special statement issued on Monday, Premadasa said the loss of life and the injuries sustained resulted from the collapse and inefficiency of the prison administration.

He recalled that the current President, while serving in the opposition, had previously said the government should be held responsible if deaths occurred inside prisons, and argued that the same principle must now apply to the present administration.

Premadasa further claimed that the government's promised system change had failed, saying the Negombo Prison incident exposed shortcomings in governance, law and order, and prison management.

He questioned whether the government was capable of maintaining law and order and ensuring a humane prison administration, adding that the public deserved answers.

The Opposition Leader also called for an independent, impartial and transparent investigation into the incident, saying this should not be left to a committee appointed to produce a report favourable to the government.

He further urged the government to set aside what he described as arrogance and to focus instead on addressing the country's pressing issues, including national security and prison management.

The Court of Appeal today (06) scheduled August 6, 2026, to hear the appeal filed by former Parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra challenging her conviction and three-year rigorous imprisonment sentence.

Premachandra has appealed the judgment delivered by the Colombo High Court, seeking to have both her conviction and sentence set aside.

The former MP was found guilty in connection with the 2015 abduction, assault, and wrongful confinement of a young employee attached to a shop in Dematagoda. Following the conviction, the High Court imposed a three-year term of rigorous imprisonment.

When the matter was taken up before the Court of Appeal today, the bench directed that the appeal be heard on August 6, 2026.

The appeal proceedings will determine whether the High Court's judgment will be upheld or overturned following legal submissions from both parties.

Minister of Justice and National Integration, Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara, visited the Negombo District General Hospital to inquire into the condition of prison officers injured during the recent clash at Negombo Prison.

During the visit, the Minister met with doctors and hospital staff to discuss the treatment being provided to the injured officers and the medical facilities required for their care.

According to official information, 23 prison officers injured in the incident are currently receiving treatment at the Negombo District General Hospital and the Colombo National Hospital.

In addition to the injured officers, 54 inmates wounded during the prison clash are also undergoing treatment at the two hospitals.

A 54-year-old man has been taken into custody after police allegedly found around 280 grams of hashish in his possession during a raid at the Muwadhora Uyana housing complex in Grandpass.

The operation was carried out by officers attached to the Colombo District Crime Division following information received by the police.

According to investigators, the suspect was found with the narcotic substance during the search and was arrested at the scene. The seized hashish has been taken into police custody as part of the ongoing investigation.

Police identified the suspect as a 54-year-old resident of Colombo 14.

Further investigations into the incident are being conducted by the Colombo District Crime Division.

Opposition Members of Parliament have submitted a letter to the Speaker requesting an urgent adjournment debate to draw Parliament's attention to the clashes that erupted at Negombo Prison.

The letter has been signed by several Opposition MPs, including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.

Quoting the Hansard Report of November 30, 2020 (Volume 280, Issue 07), the motion referred to remarks made by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during a prison riot that year.

"We all know that those who are remanded and imprisoned are under the custody of the State. They could be remand prisoners, they could be convicts. They are under the custody of the State. Therefore, the primary responsibility for the safety of the lives of the prisoners and detainees who are in State custody lies with the Government," the motion said.

Referring to the recent violence at Negombo Prison on July 5 and 6, the Opposition said it had been reported that 26 people, including prison officers and inmates, had died, while more than 100 others were injured.

"The full responsibility for the reported deaths and injuries falls upon the Government. Considering the gravity and urgency of the matter, we request that an urgent adjournment debate be granted under Standing Order 19(1) to bring this issue to the immediate attention of Parliament," the motion said.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for an immediate legislative overhaul to combat the country’s escalating dengue crisis during a meeting with public health experts.

Speaking to a delegation of larvicidal scientists at the Opposition Leader's Office, he noted that the Mosquito Breeding Act number 11 of 1987 is outdated and must be amended to effectively address modern outbreaks.

He pointed out that the legal framework enacted nearly four decades ago lacks the tools required to manage the scale of the current epidemic.

Premadasa also highlighted the severe resource shortages hindering frontline eradication efforts.

He stressed that field officers require proper logistical support to carry out their duties efficiently and called on the government to provide essential facilities including motorbikes for larvicidal scientists working in high risk areas.

He added that equipping these field workers is a critical step toward ensuring rapid response and controlling the spread of the disease across affected communities.