Vast majority of wounded also non-convicts

A file picture of the Negombo Prison during the recent riots

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Department of Prisons yesterday (14) revealed that all inmates killed during the Negombo Prison riot were suspects. A senior official said so in response to The Island query. According to the official, among the wounded, too, the majority were suspects. The identities of the dead and the wounded inmates haven’t been officially released so far.

The official acknowledged that he, too, was surprised that convicts weren’t among the dead. Of them, two died on 5 July, 17 on the following day, within the Negombo Prison premises, and two after they were moved to other prisons. A top official of the Justice and National Integration Ministry explained the difficulties experienced in giving specific details due to the destruction of the relevant records.

The National Hospital yesterday reported that two wounded prison officers, warded there, succumbed to their injuries, raising the number of dead prison staff to 10.

The prison official and Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) asserted that the deaths and injuries, among the group of suspects held at the Negombo Prison, indicated that contrary to earlier reports Sunday’s flare-up and the subsequent violence seemed to have involved a section of the suspects and the prison personnel. CPRP pointed out as the Prisons Department has announced and already granted compensation to the tune of Rs 500,000 to prison personnel killed, the government should consider adequate compensation for suspects killed. The Justice Ministry official said that they were looking into this matter as well.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) in a statement issued on 8 July pointed out that the vast majority of those who had been held in remand custody weren’t convicted of any offence and continued to enjoy the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a court of law. Sources pointed out that the BASL, as well as the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) statements, issued on 8 and 10 July, didn’t make reference to suspects being among the dead.

Sources familiar with the situation at the Negombo Prison said that comprehensive investigation was required to establish the truth. Initially, the riot was blamed on suspects who allegedly set upon the convicts, alleging that the latter passed information to Prison authorities regarding their nefarious activities. Had that been the case, the dead should have included convicts but there were none, sources said.

Meanwhile, the Prisons Department is under investigation by the HRCSL over the refusal of the Chief Jailer of the Welikada Prison to allow the HRCSL team to visit the Prison on the night of 7 July, following the death of a suspect moved from the Negombo Prison. Alleging that the Chief Jailer’s action thwarted timely investigation of the allegation, the HRCSL has summoned Acting Commissioner General of Prisons, R. Prasad Hemantha Kumara, and the Welikada Chief Jailer, for an inquiry.

HRCSL has said that those who had been transferred to other prisons, following the incidents at the Negombo Prison had been ill-treated and deprived of medical treatment. The HRCSL has pointed out that deliberate delay on the part of the Prison authorities to provide medical treatment tantamount to taking revenge on the ex-Negombo inmates.

The death of 128 wild elephants during the first four-and-a-half months of 2026 has triggered renewed concern among Wildlife authorities and conservationists, who warn that unless urgent and science-based interventions are implemented, the country could be heading for another year of heavy elephant losses.

Figures released by the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) show that 128 elephants died between January 1 and mid-May this year. Illegal electrocution, shooting, train collisions, poisoning, hakka patas (jaw bombs), and other human-elephant conflict-related incidents remain the leading causes of death.

A senior DWC official told The Island that the continued loss of elephants was a matter of grave concern.

She added:”Every elephant death is a significant loss to our wildlife heritage. We have intensified patrols, strengthened law enforcement and are working with local communities to minimise conflict. However, unless all stakeholders work together, reducing these deaths will remain a major challenge.”

The official said the Department was also investigating incidents involving illegal electric fences and firearms while expanding mitigation measures in identified conflict hotspots.

Chairman of the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), Hemantha Withanage, said the latest figures underscored the urgent need to rethink existing strategies.

“Human-elephant conflict is not merely a wildlife issue. It is a land-use planning issue, an agricultural issue and a governance issue.

Scientific land-use planning, protection of elephant corridors and proper maintenance of electric fences are essential if we are to save both human lives and elephants,” Withanage said.

Wildlife experts noted that habitat fragmentation, encroachment into elephant ranges, expansion of cultivation, and unplanned development continue to intensify encounters between people and elephants.

They warned that unless preventive measures are accelerated, elephant deaths this year could once again reach alarming levels.

Sri Lanka is home to one of Asia’s largest remaining populations of wild Asian elephants, estimated at between 6,000 and 7,000.

However, it also records one of the world’s highest annual elephant mortality rates linked to human-elephant conflict.

The DWC reminded the public that killing an elephant is a serious offence under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance and carries severe penalties, including imprisonment and substantial fines.

Conservationists have urged the Government to expedite the implementation of the National Action Plan on Human-Elephant Conflict, strengthen inter-agency coordination, improve habitat management and allocate greater resources to community-based conservation programmes.

With more than half the year still ahead, Wildlife authorities say the rising elephant death toll is a stark reminder that lasting solutions will require sustained political commitment, scientific planning and stronger cooperation between government agencies and affected communities.

By Ifham Nizam

Sigiriya Jungles Resort & Spa will commemorate its 10th anniversary by hosting a community medical camp for residents of surrounding villages on August 11, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to community wellbeing and sustainable tourism.

The medical camp, scheduled from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. at the resort premises, will provide BMI assessments, full blood tests, cholesterol screening, blood pressure checks, eye and dental examinations, medicines, and health awareness sessions aimed at promoting preventive healthcare and healthier lifestyles. The anniversary celebrations will continue later that evening in the presence of invited religious leaders, health officials and other dignitaries.

Founder and Chairman of Sigiriya Jungles Resort & Spa, Devindre Senaratne, said the initiative reflected the resort’s desire to create a meaningful and lasting impact on the community that has supported its journey over the past decade.

“Our greatest achievement is not measured by occupancy or awards, but by the happy guests and the relationships we have built over a decade. Seeing this positive impact is what really makes us happy,” he said.

Located in Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, the purposefully designed 60-room resort has welcomed more than 250,000 guests since opening in 2016. Designed by architect Vinod Jayasinghe, a protégé of the late Geoffrey Bawa, the property is distinguished by its bridge inspired by the historic Bogoda Bridge and offers visitors convenient access to UNESCO World Heritage attractions, including Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura. The resort also conducts immersive experiences such as the Audangawa Village Tour and traditional Sri Lankan village cooking demonstrations at Archchi’s.

Over the past decade, Sigiriya Jungles has received several industry recognitions, including TripAdvisor Certificates of Excellence, consecutive TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards from 2020 to 2026, the Booking.com Traveller Review Award 2026, and certifications for Safe and Secure Hospitality Operations and International Food Safety Standards (ISO 22000).

The resort has also undertaken a range of community initiatives, including the construction of the Audangawa Village Temple, continued support for Moragaswewa Vidyalaya in Habarana, regular shramadana campaigns, local sourcing programmes and certified skills training. More than 650 individuals have been trained through the resort over the past decade, many of whom now serve in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and overseas.

General Manager Chaminda Samaranayake said the resort remained committed to strengthening its sustainability agenda and is currently progressing towards Travelife certification.

“We are deeply grateful to our guests, staff, local communities, religious leaders, suppliers and partners who have helped shape these ten years. The next chapter will be guided by the same values that brought us here,” he said.