Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said he accepted full responsibility for the violent clash at Negombo Prison, which claimed the lives of 25 people.
Expressing shock and sadness over the incident, the Minister said the unrest had taken place at an institution under his purview and that he therefore had to take responsibility for the situation.
He said the situation at the prison had now been brought under control, stressing that the loss of any human life was unacceptable and that steps would be taken to prevent such incidents from happening again.
“There is deep shock over the loss of human lives. I extend my condolences to the families of those who died. We will visit the site, assess what has happened, and ensure such incidents do not recur. This is not about blaming anyone,” he said.
