Chandrasiri G 410pxPrison Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajhadeera has been urged by the Friday Forum- the Group of Concerned Citizens to publish soon the reports on the Welikada and Vavuniya prison riots.
The letter signed by Jayantha Dhanapala and Prof. Savitri Goonesekere notes that when persons in the custody of a state institution meet with violent death it is a matter of the widest public concern, well beyond the immediate one of the victims and their families.
“The Friday Forum wishes to urge you to make public the findings of the Committee appointed to investigate the events that took place in the Welikada prison, Colombo, in November 2012 resulting, inter alia, in the death of some 27 inmates, with 43 inmates injured and 11 inmates reported escaped,” the letter states.
“The Friday Forum likewise urges you to make public the findings of the Committee appointed to investigate the events that took place in the Vauniya prison, in June 2012 resulting, inter alia in the death of 2 inmates out of the 30 inmates reported as injured,” the letter has added.
The Friday Forum has also sought an appointment from the Minister to discuss the matter.
“This intervention is made in a spirit of democratic engagement by the Friday Forum, a group of concerned citizens who have come together to consider current issues of public interest with a view to making a contribution to peace, democracy, good governance and social justice in Sri Lanka,” the Forum has noted.
SLM