Clashes erupted inside a prison in Sri Lanka, resulting in at least 25 deaths and over 100 injuries, according to officials and local media. The unrest began on Sunday and continued into Monday at the prison located in Negombo, approximately 35 kilometers north of the capital, Colombo.
Spokesman Chandana Herath confirmed fatalities but could not immediately verify the death toll reported by Hiru television. The victims included both inmates and prison officials, the TV station reported. The cause of the clash remains unknown.
A hospital official stated that more than 100 individuals were admitted with injuries sustained during the prison violence. The official, who spoke anonymously, was not authorized to speak to the media.
Sri Lankan prisons are severely overcrowded, with the system holding more than 39,000 inmates against a total capacity of just 10,000.