Sri Lankan Supreme Court today ordered the Attorney General to direct the Commissioner General of Prisons and Prison Superintendent of Anuradhapura to ensure the safety of eight Tamil prisoners who filed Fundamental Rights petition against Lohan Ratwatte, State Minister of Prison Management and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation.
Eight prisoners detained under Sri Lanka’s notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) at the Anuradhapura prison had filed a Fundamental Rights petition against the alleged criminal conduct of the State Minister Lohan Ratwatte.
Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Murdu Fernando and Justice S. Thurairaja further ordered the authorities to ensure the rights of lawyers to access with these prisoners detained at Anuradhapura prison.
The petition is to be taken up for support on October 21. The Tamil prisoners are also seeking an interim order transferring them to a prison in the Northern Province where their cases are lodged.
