At least three people have been killed and dozens others wounded in an outbreak of election-related violence in Sri Lanka.

Police said presidential aide Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and his bodyguard were among those killed Saturday in clashes between opposing factions of the governing party, the United People's Freedom Alliance. Ruling party lawmaker Duminda Silva was critically wounded in the armed clash.

The violence is linked to local elections taking place in 23 municipalities, including the capital, Colombo, and its suburbs.

Authorities curfew imposed a curfew in the northern Colombo suburb where the fighting took place.

There was no immediate comment from President Mahinda Rajapaksa's party.