[3] At around 1.30 pm local time on 9 November 2012 around 300 commandos from the Special Task Force (STF), a paramilitary unit of the Sri Lanka Police Service, arrived at Welikada prison to assist prison guards searching for illegal arms, drugs and mobile phones.

[1] Despite protests from prisoners, the STF completed their search, recovering drugs and mobile phones from the cells.

[7] The authorities had then planned to storm the prison at 8 pm but this had to be postponed due heavy rains.

[1] Eyewitnesses, human rights groups and opposition politicians have alleged that some of the dead prisoners had been executed.

[5] The police have defended their actions, saying "By killing the prisoners who were armed, we prevented a much bigger disaster".

[12] Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Chandrasiri Gajadeera announced on 10 November 2012 that he had appointed a three-member committee to investigate the riot.

[17] The Asian Human Rights Commission has condemned the authorities actions and has called on the government to carry out a "thorough and credible inquiry" into the riot.

[18][19] The European Union has urged the authorities to ensure that the investigations into the riot are carried out impartially and speedily.