COLOMBO, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan police on Monday imposed curfew on the area of Kandy, which lies in the central hills of the island country, after clashes triggered by racial violence erupted between two groups.

Police spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara told Xinhua that the curfew had been imposed till 6 am Tuesday morning in order to restore normalcy. Security has been beefed up across the Kandy district, he added.

Gunasekara said the clashes had erupted in Digana town in Kandy on Sunday night after a 41-year-old man died from his injuries at the hospital after being attacked by a group of people over an incident involving two vehicles on Feb. 22.

Gunasekara said 24 people had been arrested over the killing so far. Out of the 24, 10 were directly involved in the killing of the victim while 14 people were arrested on suspicion.

However, protests continued throughout the night with violent mobs clashing with each other on Monday afternoon.

Police used tear gas to disperse crowds, and imposed curfew throughout the district.