Six inmates killed as prison officers open fire to quell riot in Sri Lanka

A family member of an inmate cries demanding the authorities reveal the condition of her relative (AP/Eranga Jayawardena)

Six inmates have been killed and 35 others injured when guards opened fire to control a riot at a prison on the outskirts of Sri Lanka’s capital, officials said.

Pandemic-related unrest has been growing in Sri Lanka’s overcrowded prisons and inmates have staged protests in recent weeks at several jails as the number of coronavirus cases surges in the facilities.