COLOMBO, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Monday ordered the police to conduct an immediate impartial probe after violent mobs clashed in Kandy.

The government information department said Sirisena had also instructed the army and police to provide the highest security to ensure the safety of all citizens in the district.

Police imposed curfew across the Kandy District earlier on Monday after mobs clashed on the streets causing severe unrest. The clashes were triggered by racial violence.

Police Spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekere told Xinhua the curfew would stay in place till Tuesday morning while security had been beefed up.

Several parliamentarians had also raised concerns over the unrest and called on the government to conduct an immediate probe to restore normalcy in Kandy.

The police spokesman said the clashes had erupted in Digana town in Kandy on Sunday night after a 41-year-old man succumbed to his injuries after being attacked by a group of people 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.