Jun 29, Vavuniya: Police Special Task Force (STF) has rescued the three prison officials taken hostage by the inmates at the Vavuniya prison in northern Sri Lanka.

Acting Police Media Spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Sajeewa Medawatte has said that the three officials were rescued by a combined police, army and Special Task Force (STF) operation launched this morning at the Vavuniya Prison.

Inmates at the Vavuniya prison protesting the transfer of a suspected LTTE prisoner have taken three prison officials hostage Thursday and held them, according to the police.

The police spokesman has said that trouble started when the police tried to take a suspect, who is a former LTTE leader, away under a court order to hand over to the Terrorism Investigation Department and in the ensuing melee the inmates have taken the prison officials hostage.

However, there were no reports of threats or assaults on the hostages.

Meanwhile the inmates at the Vavuniya prison who engaged in a hunger strike have been transferred to the Anuradhapura Prisons Complex, private radio Hiru FM reported.