A mutiny at a high-security prison in Colombo has left 27 people dead and 43 injured, according to a new, still provisional death toll announced saturday by Sri Lankan Minister of Prison Rehabilitation and Reform Chandrasiri Gajadeera.
“Sixteen bodies are in hospital and 11 others were discovered today inside the prison” in Welikada, the minister told members of Parliament. “I have appointed a three-member committee to investigate this incident,” he added.
According to an army spokesman, prison guards, police and army continue to search the facility and may find more bodies.
The riots, which broke out for several hours on Friday between security personnel and detainees, erupted as STF special police searched for drugs and mobile phones smuggled into the prison, a military official at the scene told AFP.
“Some detainees took weapons and used them,” said the soldier, who requested anonymity. “The situation is now fully under control,” he said.
According to Minister Gajadeera, the detainees had seized 82 firearms, including automatic assault rifles, from an armory in the prison they had forced. But the authorities were able to find the majority of them. The research is focused on the five weapons that are still missing, he said.
The director of Colombo National Hospital, Anil Jasinghe, initially reported 16 dead and 43 wounded hospitalized. “Among the wounded still hospitalized are 13 special forces policemen, four soldiers and a passer-by,” he told AFP. The head of the special forces was also shot, he said.
During the riot, which required the intervention of the army, some detainees tried to flee and the security forces shot at them. Tear gas was also used against the detainees, according to witnesses.
Prisoners climbed onto the roof and shot at the soldiers and police, who responded with firearms. Intermittent gunfire was heard for at least three hours, according to witnesses. The inmates came down from the roof after dark when the authorities turned off the lights.
Afghan, Indian and Pakistani detainees were in the prison, but none were hospitalized. The identities of the dead have not been released by the authorities, but witnesses say they are mostly prisoners. One of the dead is believed to be a prison guard, according to a hospital source.
