Colombo (Sri Lanka) - Following the deaths of a German and a British tourist in Sri Lanka, the South Asian country's police have launched an investigation into a suspected poisoning.

Police said on Saturday that they were investigating whether the deaths of the two young women were caused by insects in the rooms of the hostel in the capital Colombo.

The 24-year-old British woman died in hospital on February 2 after being found ill in her hostel room. According to police , the 26-year-old German woman died a day later. Another German is still in hospital for treatment.

According to the British woman's family, the tourists were taken to hospital due to "vomiting and nausea", among other things. The 24-year-old also had breathing difficulties.

The relatives launched an online appeal for donations to bring the young woman's body back home.

According to local media reports, gas had been sprayed in the hostel days before the outbreak of illness and deaths to combat bedbugs and other pests. The accommodation was closed by the police.