Deadly clashes have erupted inside a prison on the outskirts of Sri Lanka's capital, authorities said Monday, AP reports.
The riots began on Sunday at the Negombo prison, about 35 kilometers north of the capital Colombo, and continued into Monday, according to local media and police. Local Hiru television reported that 25 people had died in the clashes and more than 100 others had been injured. The victims included both prisoners and prison staff.
Police spokesperson Chandana Herath confirmed that there had been a fight inside the prison and that there were casualties, but did not provide further details.
The cause of the fight is not yet known. An official at the area's main state hospital said more than 100 people were admitted for treatment for injuries from the prison incident.
Prisons in Sri Lanka are severely overcrowded, with more than 39.000 prisoners in a system that only has capacity for about 10.000 people.
