A clash between two groups of inmates at Negombo Prison left two prisoners dead and 36 others injured before authorities brought the situation under control, Prisons Spokesperson and Commissioner of Prisons A.C. Gajanayake said.
The injured inmates were admitted to hospital for treatment, while three others were transferred to the Pallansena camp after receiving medical care.
According to Gajanayake, the incident was an internal dispute between inmates, and no prison officers were involved in the clash.
He said the prison, which currently houses 2,417 inmates, has returned to normal after prison officials, with the assistance of inmates, restored order inside the facility.
Following the incident, security around the prison was heightened with the deployment of police, the Special Task Force (STF), and the Sri Lanka Army.
A brief tense situation was also reported in the women's section of the prison, but authorities quickly contained it. No female inmates were among those hospitalized, the spokesperson confirmed.
Mr.Gajanayake urged relatives of inmates to remain calm, noting that details of those receiving hospital treatment would be released later.
The Commissioner General of Prisons has appointed a special investigation team to determine the cause of the incident and conduct a full inquiry into the clash.
