Three inmates were killed and 23 others injured in a series of riots that erupted across Sri Lanka, with authorities suspecting narcotics dealers and rival gangs are behind the violence. The disturbances occurred at multiple prison facilities, prompting the deployment of police and special task forces.

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala informed parliament on Friday that the unrest began late Thursday when 40 inmates broke out of their cells at the New Magazine Prison in the capital, Colombo, resulting in one prisoner's death. A second riot on Friday morning at Kuruwita prison, located approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Colombo, led to the deaths of two more inmates.

Wijepala stated that between the two incidents, 23 inmates sustained injuries and were subsequently hospitalized. He confirmed that police and special forces successfully brought both riots under control. In a separate incident on Friday, police used tear gas to disperse protesting inmates at an open prison in Negombo, a coastal town about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Colombo.

Authorities reported that riot police worked to contain prisoners who had moved into open areas or climbed onto rooftops at all three locations, guiding them back to their wards. Minister Wijepala indicated that the violence appears to be connected to narcotics operations and feuding criminal gangs. He added that the government is investigating whether the riots were coordinated.

"When you take all these incidents together, it appears that there is planning behind these and an attempt at sabotage. But we can only say anything further after a comprehensive investigation," Wijepala told parliament, emphasizing the need for a thorough inquiry before drawing definitive conclusions.

This recent outbreak of violence follows a deadly period of unrest just one month prior, when 10 prison officials and 20 inmates perished in two days of fighting at a prison in Negombo. Additionally, a riot last weekend at a prison in Mahara, approximately 14 kilometers (8.6 miles) from Colombo, resulted in the death of one inmate and injuries to several others.

Prison overcrowding is a significant issue in Sri Lanka, with facilities operating at crisis levels. According to Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, prisons are holding over 39,000 inmates, far exceeding the system's total capacity of just 10,000. Senaka Perera, president of the Committee for Rights of Prisoners, noted that inmate numbers are four times the intended capacity, suggesting prisoners have shown considerable patience.

Many of the incarcerated individuals are awaiting trial for alleged narcotics-related offenses. Perera pointed to recent legislative changes that have tightened bail conditions as a contributing factor to the escalating prison overcrowding. In an effort to address the backlog of over one million court cases and reduce the prison population, Sri Lanka is reportedly planning to amend its constitution to extend the tenure of superior court judges by two years.