Two killed in Sri Lanka prison unrest, troops deployed to restore order

At least two people were killed and several injured as Sri Lanka deployed heavily armed troops to its main maximum-security prison on Friday following an unsuccessful breakout attempt by inmates, officials said.

Hundreds of soldiers and police commandos guarded the perimeter of Welikada Prison after unrest that began on Thursday night.

Dozens of convicts broke out of their cells and climbed onto the roof of a prison building around midnight, sparking clashes with guards.

A prison official said the situation had been brought under control, but similar unrest was reported at another prison in Kuruwita, about 80 kilometres southeast of Colombo.

Since July, 10 guards and 23 inmates have been killed in two separate riots at two other prisons outside Colombo.

Negombo Prison’s riot on July 5 was the country's deadliest prison riot in more than five years.

Last month, the authorities announced plans to convert disused state buildings into prisons, but new facilities are yet to be added.

More than three-quarters of inmates in Sri Lanka are remand prisoners awaiting trial, and most are being held in connection with drug offences.

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Source: TRT