Deadly clashes break out at prison in Sri Lanka

25 people died and nearly 100 were injured in a conflict between two groups of prisoners in a prison in Sri Lanka.

Clashes began on Sunday between convicted prisoners and detainees at the prison in the coastal town of Negombo, about 30 km north of the commercial capital Colombo, two police sources and a hospital source told Reuters.

The cause of the clashes is not yet known.

Police sources said that areas inside the prison were still being cleared and that authorities were trying to account for the dead and injured.

“The army has been asked to provide support to the police but the police are currently on standby,” army spokesman Brigadier General Waruna Gamage told Reuters.

Footage from Derana TV showed heavy police deployment outside the prison gate as a police bus was leaving the prison, carrying injured prisoners, some of whom were lying on the ground.