Several die as Lankan prisoners battle police

At least 13 people were killed and another 32 wounded at Sri Lanka’s main prison on Friday after inmates overpowered guards and fought gun battles with elite police commandos, officials said. Clashes erupted as elite police Special Task Force (STF) commandos carried out a search inside Colombo’s Welikada prison for drugs and smuggled mobile phones, a military official at the scene said. “Some of the inmates grabbed weapons and have used them,” the officer said, asking not to be named. “We have ringed the prison and closed the adjoining Baseline road to make sure civilians don’t get hit by gunfire.” Colombo National Hospital director Anil Jasinghe said 13 people were dead on admission. “Forty five people were brought in and 13 of them were already dead,” Jasinghe said. “Six people are in a critical condition. Three of them have undergone surgery and are now in intensive care.” It was the worst riot at the maximum security Welikada jail since July 1983 when more than 50 ethnic Tamil prisoners were massacred.