Gunfight at Sri Lanka's Prison Kills 27

(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) At least 27 people were killed and a senior police officer seriously wounded in a gunfight in Sri Lanka's biggest prison that began when police came under fire from inmates, officials and police said on Saturday. The army brought the violence under control before dawn and freed staff held hostage at the Welikada prison in the capital Colombo, media reports quoted jail officials and military as saying. Twenty seven people have been confirmed dead, prisons minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera told parliament. The violence erupted when officers from the Special Task Force (STF) were searching the jail for drugs and illegal mobile phones, according to the reports.