The clash between two groups of inmates at Negombo Prison has been brought under control, Prisons Spokesperson and Commissioner of Prisons, A.C. Gajanayake stated.

Gajanayake said a total of 36 inmates were injured and admitted to hospital, while two died as a result of the incident.

Three other inmates were transferred to the Pallansena camp after receiving treatment, he added.

The prison currently houses 2,417 inmates, and order inside the facility has now been fully restored with the intervention of prison officials and the assistance of inmates, the Prisons Spokesperson confirmed.

Earlier, security outside the prison was strengthened with the deployment of police, the Special Task Force (STF) and the Sri Lanka Army.

A brief tense situation was also reported in the section housing female inmates, but authorities brought it under control. No female inmates are among those hospitalized, the spokesperson said.

Gajanayake said the incident was an internal clash between inmates and that prison officers were not involved.

He urged relatives of inmates not to panic, adding that details of hospitalized inmates would be released later.

A special investigation team has been appointed by the Commissioner General of Prisons to probe the incident.