Prisoners go on hunger strike

Prisoners go on hunger strike

COLOMBO (Reuters): About 20 foreigners held in a Sri Lankan prison on various minor offenses have started a hunger strike to protest their treatment, embassy and other officials said on Sunday.

They said the prisoners in Negombo, mostly South Koreans but also one Briton, an American and six Chinese, were demanding that they be brought to trial or released.

The officials said the prisoners, held for overstaying visas or other passport problems, have refused to eat for the last two days.

Negombo is about 30 km north of the capital Colombo and is the nearest big city to the country's international airport. There are often long delays in Sri Lanka before an arrested person is brought to trial.

There are no official figures, but a local newspaper reported that in 1999 out of the 18,000 people in the country's prison, just 5,000 had been convicted with the rest being held on remand.