Deadly clashes at Sri Lanka prison leave at least 19 dead
A hospital official said four guards and 15 inmates were killed after violence broke out at a prison in Negombo.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
At least 19 people were killed in clashes at a prison in Sri Lanka, according to a hospital official cited by AFP, while local media reported a higher toll. The violence at the prison in Negombo, north of Colombo, also wounded more than 100 inmates, the official said.
The fighting began on Sunday and continued into Monday, according to local media reports and police cited by Al Jazeera. Authorities had not immediately given a cause for the clashes.
Pushpa Gamlath, director of the Negombo hospital, told AFP on Monday that the hospital had received the bodies of four prison guards and 15 inmates. She said more than 100 injured inmates were admitted for treatment.
Negombo is about 35 kilometres, or 22 miles, north of Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo. Police spokesman Chandana Herath confirmed to reporters that a clash had taken place inside the prison and that people had died, but he did not provide further details, according to Al Jazeera.
Local television station Hiru reported that at least 20 people had been killed in the fighting. Al Jazeera reported the death toll as at least 19 based on the hospital director’s account to AFP.
No official explanation for the outbreak of violence had been released. The available reports did not say whether the prison had been brought fully under control by Monday, or whether any investigation had been opened.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.