COLOMBO, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Tamil political detainees, including former Tamil Tiger rebels, started a hunger strike on Monday, calling for immediate release.
Prisons Department officials said that around 100 prisoners were taking part in the hunger strike which started in the early hours of Monday. The prisoners refused to take food and remained at the cells.
The prisoners called for a presidential pardon and refused to suspend the fast till they get an acceptable solution.
Sri Lanka's opposition leaders and Tamil political groups have called on the new united government to release all the Tamil political prisoners.
Opposition parliamentarians from minority parties have alleged that at least 300 political prisoners remain jailed in the island nation.
