At least 25 people, including seven prison guards, were killed and about 100 were injured in a clash among inmates in a Sri Lankan prison.

A clash between two groups of prisoners led to the death of two inmates on Sunday. The fighting continued on Monday, resulting in another 23 deaths, authorities said.

“The fight broke out when the prisoners were being served breakfast,” Chamika Gajanayake, media spokesperson for the Department of Prisons, told journalists on Monday.

The prison spokesperson said investigations were ongoing and attributed the cause of the violent fight to drug trafficking.

Pushpa Gamlath, director of the Negombo hospital, where the bodies of those killed in the fight were deposited, said more than 100 wounded inmates and guards had also been admitted to the hospital.

“Some had gunshot wounds, cuts and severe bruises. We transferred 18 of the more seriously wounded to the Colombo National Hospital.” Mr Gamlath said.