In an appeal to the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights, Louise Arbour, the prisoners say that they are in custody without trial and their human rights are violated.

Punish us

"Produce us before courts and punish us if found guilty or release us if there are no charges. Do not keep us just as LTTE suspects", a prisoner who spoke to Sandesaya from inside the prison said outlining their grievances.

Eighty six prisoners from Welikada prison, 28 from Anuradhapura prison and 66 from Magazine prison are on the fast.

The prisoners said that among them are prisoners between the ages of 15 to 67.

"There are those who are of school going age and some are there for more than three years", the prisoner said.

Attack at prisoners

He said on Wednesday a prison guard and Sinhala prisoners attacked some Tamil detainees in Welikada prison when they went to seek medical treatment for sore eyes.

The High Commissioner Louise Arbour arrived in the country on Tuesday to assess the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.

Thirty eight human right organisations have also written to the High Commissioner Louise Arbour giving out areas of human right violations, and background.