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COLOMBO: Clashes in a Sri Lankan jail killed 26 people, including seven guards, and wounded more than 100 in the country’s deadliest prison riot in years, officials said on Monday.
Victims with cuts and gunshot injuries were rushed to Negombo Hospital, north of the capital Colombo following overnight fighting between inmates from two drug gangs, police said.
Hospital director Pushpa Gamlath said there were 23 bodies at the state-run facility, as well as more than 100 wounded inmates and guards from Negombo Prison.
“There are some victims with gunshot injuries, some with cuts and severe bruises,” Gamlath said by telephone. “We transferred 18 of the more seriously wounded to the Colombo National hospital.” Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara later said three more people had died, raising the toll to 26.
