Twenty-six, including 25 Sri Lankan refugees, who have been quarantined at a special camp at the Central Prison here, started a fast on Saturday, demanding the early completion of the cases against them.

They are facing charges, including illegal entry and suspected association with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Many of them were recently transferred to the special camp here from different camps in the State. A Malaysian citizen is among them.

Sources said the 26 persons did not have breakfast and lunch. They told the authorities that they would not take food unless there was an assurance that the cases against them were settled soon. It was unfair to conduct the trial of the cases for so long when peace prevailed in Sri Lanka, they said. (The Hindu)