Archive · 24 Jul 2026
Sri Lanka minister survives no-confidence motion after prison riots
There was a big fight in a prison in Sri Lanka called Negombo Prison.
Many people died, mostly guards.
The opposition in the government said the Justice Minister, Harshana Nanayakkara, didn't do enough to stop the fight.
They tried to make him leave his job by voting against him.
But most of the other politicians voted to keep him.
The minister said he won't leave just because the opposition wants him to.
Sri Lankan Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara defeated a no-confidence motion with a vote of 152 to 36.
The motion was brought by the opposition over Nanayakkara's alleged failure to manage the Negombo prison riots.
The riots at Negombo Prison on July 5 and 6 resulted in more than 30 deaths, mostly prison guards.
Nanayakkara accepted responsibility but refused to resign, stating he wouldn't do so just to please the opposition.
The opposition accused Nanayakkara of inaction and abdicating responsibility during the riots.
- Who
- Sri Lankan Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara and the opposition led by Ajith P Perera
- What
- A no-confidence motion against Nanayakkara over his handling of the Negombo prison riots
- When
- July 24
- Where
- Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Why
- The opposition accused Nanayakkara of inaction and failure to manage the riots, while Nanayakkara accepted responsibility but refused to resign.
Opposition's View
Justice Minister's View
Responsibility for prison riots
Opposition's View
The opposition accuses Nanayakkara of inaction and failure to manage the riots, calling it a clear case of abdicating responsibility.
Justice Minister's View
Nanayakkara accepts responsibility but refuses to resign, stating he has no reason to do so just to please the opposition.
- Date of Riots
- July 5 and 6
- Location of Riots
- Negombo Prison, Western Province, Sri Lanka
- Casualties
- More than 30 people, mostly prison guards and a few inmates
- Vote Result
- 152 to 36 in favor of Nanayakkara
- Opposition Leader
- Ajith P Perera