At least 3 people, including a notorious underworld gang leader, were killed in a clash with the police on Friday.

Police spokesman senior deputy inspector general Nimal Mediwaka told reporters that an underworld leader named Faji and two of hisacolytes were the victims.

Mediwaka said the police's Special Task Force raided a spot in Central Colombo's Maligawatta area at 3 a.m. on Friday (2130 GMT Thursday) following a tip-off.

The police had come under attack from the underworld group, Mediwaka said.

Several underworld figures from the Maligawatta area were killed recently in the police's crackdown of criminal gangs and drug dealers.