A violent riot erupted inside a Sri Lankan prison on Sunday, leaving 19 people dead and more than 100 inmates injured. The injured were taken to Negombo Hospital, located north of Colombo. Hospital director Pushpa Gamalath confirmed that the bodies of four prison guards and fifteen inmates were brought in. The unrest began around 1 p.m. when two groups of inmates clashed inside the facility, and although authorities regained control by night, violence flared again on Monday morning.

According to reports, inmates broke into the prison armory and seized firearms. The overcrowded correctional facility became the scene of heavy gunfire as authorities attempted to regain control. The conflict reportedly stemmed from tensions between two inmate groups—one accused of running a drug trafficking network from inside the prison and another opposing their activities. The initial clash on Sunday left two inmates dead and 38 injured.

The Sri Lankan government launched a joint military and police operation to restore order and began an investigation into the incident. Officials later described the situation as stable.