India's High Commission in Sri Lanka has been closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Welikada prison since last evening, official spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs said here today.
He said High Commissioner Ashok Kantha has been in touch with Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Foreign Secretary Amunugama.
"He was assured that the situation is under control and all Indian prisoners are safe," the spokesperson said.
It is understood that there are 39 Indian prisoners in the prison among a total of 4000 inmates. These Indian prisoners include 34 who are sentenced and 5 under trials brought from Jaffna.
The High Commission officials in Colombo have been in touch with prison officials and are pressing for early consular access, the spokesperson added.
The riot started after authorities launched a search for drugs within the prison, and the inmates turned against the operatives of the police's Special Task Force (STF).
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app