Justice Minister Has Failed in His Duty, Says Sajith Premadasa

08-Jul-2026

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Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has accused the Justice Minister of failing to ensure prison security following the deadly Negombo Prison violence.

Addressing Parliament, Premadasa questioned how the Government could guarantee the safety of the public when it had failed to protect inmates and prison staff. He noted that 27 people had died and around 100 others had been hospitalised in the incident.

He also highlighted longstanding issues such as prison overcrowding, delays in appointing a Commissioner General of Prisons, and the Government's failure to implement promised prison reforms, adding that lessons from previous prison disturbances had not been learnt.