The cause of the Negombo prison riot has been revealed to be 'room parties'.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has informed the court that the continuous provision of information to officers by inmates known as "room parties," who assist in the administration of the Negombo Prison, regarding drug trafficking and other illegal activities operating within the prison, was the primary cause of the unrest at Negombo Prison.

Initial investigations into this matter were commenced by the Negombo Police Headquarters, and subsequently, by order of the Inspector General of Police, further investigations were assigned to Unit 01 of the Commercial Crime Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department. Accordingly, these details were revealed by Chief Police Inspector P.V.A.S. Karunathilaka, the OIC of that division, while reporting facts related to case number PC/16655/26 being heard at the Negombo Magistrate's Court. At the time of this incident, 162 inmates serving sentences and 2,255 suspects held on remand were detained in Negombo Prison, including 2,251 male inmates and 166 female inmates. Furthermore, as of July 05th, when this chaotic situation arose, one Prison Superintendent, one Chief Jailer, 13 Jailers, and 151 Prison Guard officers were on duty there.

The incident that initiated this confrontational atmosphere was reported on July 03rd, when an inmate named Kuruppu Arachchige Suresh Pushpakumara, also known as Katuwelle Gama Suresh, held under number 4423 in Ward A1, which houses special category inmates, was taken out for exercise as usual. Although such special category inmates are allotted 30 minutes for exercise daily, on that day, this inmate spent more time exercising and delayed returning to his cell. Due to this, probationary guard Maheesh Dilshan Karunaratne, who was in charge of supervising that ward, admonished him. Subsequently, a written complaint was submitted to the Chief Jailer of the prison, stating that Katuwelle Gama Suresh had implicitly threatened the officer with death.

Acting on that written complaint, officers of the Prison Disciplinary Unit detained this suspect in an outer cell of L Ward on July 04th. The Criminal Investigation Department informed the court that Suresh had strongly protested against this cell transfer. Due to his escalating protest, authorities took steps to transfer him back to his previous ward on the morning of the 05th. However, during lunch on that day, a group led by Katuwelle Gama Suresh began behaving riotously and assaulting the "room party" inmates who assist in prison administration. At the same time, another group of inmates proceeded to break the padlocks of several wards, leading to a severe state of unrest throughout the entire prison.

During this incident, the riotous inmates attempted to attack prison officers who came forward to rescue the assaulted "room party" inmates. The Criminal Investigation Department further reported to the court that this group attacked the prison hospital and its administrative premises, causing severe damage. Not stopping there, the inmates broke into the prison hospital's pharmacy, seized medications intended for psychiatric patients, distributed them among the inmates, and it was revealed in court that a portion of these was also given to female inmates. In the face of this tense situation, high-ranking officials, including the Commissioner General of Prisons, held discussions with the riotous inmates. Although some inmates returned to their wards afterward, another group remained on the prison roof until midnight.

Meanwhile, investigations revealed that as a measure to ensure prison security, all firearms and ammunition issued for daily duties were removed from the Negombo Prison armory that night and temporarily stored in a room in the jailers' lounge. However, it was revealed with evidence that 10 automatic firearms and 22 repeater-type firearms, not used for daily duties, were securely locked in a part of the armory. As a result of this riotous incident, two inmates died and several others were injured. Although police officers from the Negombo Division arrived to conduct an on-site inspection, they were unable to do so due to the prevailing chaotic situation. Subsequently, to suppress the situation, a team comprising Assistant Prison Superintendent Rajakarunanayake and two jailers, along with 89 officers from the Prison Headquarters' Emergency Response Tactical Force, as well as the Negombo Police Riot Control Force and a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team from the Police Special Task Force, were called to the prison premises.

From the night of the 05th until dawn on the 06th, a group including Katuwelle Suresh remained outdoors without entering the wards. There, after Suresh gave a secret message to two of his close associates, a group climbed onto the slab of Ward 07 and shouted, "We are doing all this for you!" Although breakfast is usually served in the prison between 6:00 AM and 6:45 AM, due to the unrest on the previous day, breakfast on the 06th was served around 9:30 AM. While food was being distributed, a conflict erupted between two inmates in Ward No. 5, and several inmates there told the prison officers distributing food to leave the area immediately. Following this warning, within a very short time, inmates from all wards came out and began behaving riotously, severely assaulting selected inmates and prison officers. Officers who ran towards the prison's mesh gate to escape these attacks were also assaulted by a group of inmates near the mesh gate.

The Criminal Investigation Department's submission to the court stated that a group of Emergency Response Tactical Force officers who entered the prison to control the situation were trapped among the inmates. Although they tried to hide to escape, the riotous inmates pursued them and brutally assaulted them. After the internal control of the prison completely fell into the hands of the inmates, officers of the Police Special Task Force fired 06 tear gas canisters to suppress the situation. Subsequently, by order of the Prison Superintendent, officers fired shots into the air. However, as the situation remained uncontrolled, a prison officer near the main gate took steps to control the situation by firing several shots into the prison through a small window in the front door. The Criminal Investigation Department is expected to submit another comprehensive report containing investigation details related to this incident to the court in the future.