Sri Lanka prisoners take over jail

Sri Lankan armed forces have surrounded the area

By Frances Harrison BBC correspondent in Colombo

Four hundred inmates have seized control of a prison in the southern Sri Lankan town of Tangalla.

Two of the guards are thought to be wounded

It is not clear how or why the riots started, but the police say the prisoners, who are now armed, have locked up 11 staff and prison guards.

Reports say the sound of gunfire has been heard and state media have reported that two of the prison staff held have been wounded.

The Sri Lankan military says it has airlifted anti-hijack troops into Tangalla by helicopter.

Military officials also say that the army, navy and police have surrounded the prison and cordoned off the whole area.

Situation 'under control'

A dawn-to-dusk curfew has been declared in the town and local residents have been asked to stay indoors.

There is suspicion that some of the prisoners have escaped.

Both military spokesmen and local journalists said the sound of firing had been heard from the prison in the evening, but it was not clear what was going on.

The local police chief says he does not know why the riots started in the afternoon, but the inmates managed to seize control of the prison armoury and then lock up staff and guards.

Police say they have had no communication with the prisoners and know nothing of what their grievances or demands might be.

But they say the situation is now under control in the sense that the area around the prison has been secured.