COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Three inmates were killed and more than 20 were injured in two separate prison clashes in Sri Lanka on Thursday and Friday, a government minister said.
In a third detention facility, officials used tear gas to control inmate protests on Friday.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament on Friday that one inmate died at Colombo Magazine Prison in the capital, Colombo, late Thursday when about 40 prisoners clashed after breaking out of their cells.
Two inmates died Friday morning at Kuruwita Prison in Kuruwita town about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the capital, Wijepala said.
Between the two incidents, 23 inmates were injured and admitted to hospitals, Wijepala said, adding that the violence was related to narcotics dealers and rival criminal gangs.
Prison officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Separately, prison officials used tear gas to control inmate protests at the Pallansena Correctional Center on Friday. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The reports of the three deaths come a month after a clash in Negombo prison on July 6 left at least 26 people dead including seven prison officers.
Sri Lankan prisons are highly congested, with more than 39,000 inmates crowded into a system with a total capacity of just 10,000, according to a recent speech in Parliament by Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara.
“The number of prisoners in Sri Lanka today is four times the capacity,” said Senaka Perera, president of the Committee for Rights of Prisoners. “In fact they have been patient for so long.”
A large number of jail inmates are suspects awaiting trial for alleged narcotics-related offenses. Recent laws tightening bail conditions have resulted in prison overcrowding, Perera said.
The poor living conditions in the congested prisons keep inmates in constant agitation, which triggers incidents, Perera said.
His organization has made numerous pleas to authorities to categorize drug addicts as medical patients and establish separate rehabilitation facilities, Perera said.
Sri Lankan soldiers stand outside the Magazine Prison following an unrest in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. (AP Photo)
The Philadelphia Eagles are bringing back fan favorite tight end Zach Ertz, three people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
Ertz will join the practice squad in hopes of shoring up a tight end room depleted by injuries, the people said Monday on condition of anonymity because the move had not been announced.
Ertz's return comes with multiple Eagles tight ends dealing with injuries.
Dallas Goedert is expected to miss several weeks with an MCL sprain suffered in Sunday's 24-20 win over the Tennessee Titans, one person told the AP. Backups Eli Stowers and Grant Calcaterra also are injured.
“We’ll see where he is by the end of the day here,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said of Goedert. “But I love the room. I love where we are in that room. Obviously, we had an injury yesterday with Dallas. Eli is out right now. We’re a little banged up there, as you guys know, but I like the pieces that we have there, and we’ll see where we are with Dallas. I don’t want to go anywhere yet until we figure out some things there.”
Ertz spent his first eight seasons with the Eagles, earning three Pro Bowl appearances, and made two key plays late in their Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots after the 2017 season. He played three seasons for Arizona after being traded in 2021 and spent the last two in Washington.
The 35-year-old suffered a torn ACL with the Commanders in December, but has been cleared to play.
Ertz is fifth on the NFL's career list for catches by a tight end with 825 and his 8,952 yards receiving are eighth. He's scored 57 touchdowns.
Ertz is 11 receptions away from breaking Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael's franchise record for Philadelphia. Carmichael had 589 catches with the Eagles from 1971-83. Ertz has 579.
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Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) is grabbed by Washington Commanders cornerback Darius Rush (29) as he runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
FILE - Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz stands on the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Dec. 7, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr, File)
