The death toll from the violent clash at Negombo Prison has risen to 25, including several prison officers, police said.
More than 62 others, including prison officers, have been injured in the incident and are receiving treatment at hospitals.
Negombo Hospital sources stated that gunshot wounds were found on the bodies of several of the deceased as well as on some of the injured.
The violence erupted after a group of inmates at Negombo Prison launched what authorities described as an organized attack on Sunday morning (06), prompting security forces to open fire to bring the situation under control.
The incident followed heightened tensions at the prison that began on Saturday (05) and had reportedly been brought under control by midnight.
The unrest initially started yesterday afternoon when a clash broke out between two groups of inmates at Negombo Prison, which houses more than 1,800 remand prisoners and short-term inmates.
Two inmates were killed, and 34 others were injured in that earlier confrontation.
According to preliminary investigations, the clash is believed to have been triggered by a dispute over alleged drug trafficking inside the prison.
Following the violence, a group of male and female inmates climbed onto the prison roof in protest. During the protest, four inmates fell from the roof and sustained injuries and were admitted to the hospital for treatment.
Police, the Police Special Task Force (STF), and the Army were deployed to the prison last night to restore order and contain the escalating unrest.
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