The Ministry of Justice and National Integration said the prison was officially declared a crime scene following the violence that erupted on July 5 and 6, 2026.
"As a result, the majority of inmates were temporarily transferred to other prisons to ensure their safety while enabling investigators to carry out uninterrupted inquiries at the scene," the ministry said.
Earlier, two Extraordinary Gazettes were issued designating the closed Mahamodara Hospital and the Old Bogambara premises as temporary prisons.
According to the ministry, the two sites will serve as temporary detention facilities until extensive renovation work at Negombo Prison is completed after the unrest severely damaged the prison.
The ministry said the emergency transfers have further exacerbated overcrowding across the country's prison system. To accommodate the increased inmate population and safeguard the welfare of prisoners, authorities identified the need for additional temporary prison facilities.
