4,000 prisoners to be transferred away from Colombo

Sri Lanka's Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms D.E.W. Gunasekara says that 4,000 prisoners of high security Welikada Prison in Colombo will be transferred to other prisons.

Prisoners including females will be transferred to Weerawila, Pallekale and Thaldena prisons, the Minister said.

He also said that the measure is to prevent the convicted drug offenders running drug trades from the Welikada Prison.

Last week, more than 40 police and prison officials were injured as prisoners attacked them when police conducted a raid in Welikada Prison.