Stand-off at Sri Lanka jail

By Frances Harrison BBC correspondent in Colombo

Armed prisoners who have seized a jail in Sri Lanka are demanding to meet the minister of justice to negotiate their release on bail, reports say.

The prisoners in Tangalla jail are holding at least 11 staff hostage - some of whom are said to be injured - along with some of the inmates.

Hundreds of prisoners are still in control of the jail surrounded by army commandos, navy and police.

Reports say there have been two rounds of negotiations between the prisoners and the commissioner of prison, but without success.

The prisoners are believed to want to meet the minister of justice, the attorney general and a number of local judges.

There was a lengthy gun battle on Sunday

They also want their release on bail and investigations into their cases to start immediately.

Police say there are 400 inmates in the prison.

It is thought the riot was started by a group of jailed army deserters who managed to gain control of the prison armoury and are now armed with T-56 rifles.

Some reports say there was a long gun battle on Sunday, with inmates firing from the prison towers and artillery vents of the old Dutch prison.

Troops were airlifted in and the area was cordoned off. A curfew was declared in Tangalla town.

There are conflicting reports about a group of women prisoners.

Some accounts say they were rescued by police, others say they managed to escape and then surrendered to the police.

Local journalists say two people who were injured were released by the prisoners for medical treatment and a Buddhist monk has been allowed inside the jail to talk to them.