Centre for women prisoners opened at Welikada

SARATH Malalasekera

WELIKADA: The Legal Aid Commission (LAC) opened a new centre for the women prisoners at the Welikada Prison premises to mark the International Women?s Day on March 8.

LAC Chairman S. S. Wijeratne said that the new Legal Aid Centre at the Welikada Prison will operate three days a week for the benefit of the women prisoners.

Women prisoners could consult the LAC officers who are in-charge of the Centre at the Welikada Prison and obtain assistance for their difficulties, LAC Chairman Wijeratne said.

To mark the International Women?s Day President Mahinda Rajapakse directed the Commissioner General of Prisons Rumy Marzook to release all the women prisoners serving jail terms for offences ranging from default of fine, loitering and those who are over 70 years of age.

The President?s move marked an important chapter in the history of local prisons because this is the fist time that women prisoners were released on a pardon by the Head of the State on International Women?s Day.

Legal Aid Commission Chairman S.S. Wijeratne, LAC Director retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Hector S. Yapa, Ministry of Justice Senior Additional Secretary Ms. Dhara Wijetilleke, Senior Additional Secretary Ms. Kamani de Silva, Ms. Sharma Gunaratne, LAC Director Rohan Sahabandu, Prisons Commissioner Welfare W. A. Weerasinghe and Women Jailor Kumari Ratnaweera participated at the ceremony inside the Welikada Prison.

LAC Chairman S. S. Wijeratne who chaired the conference at the Welikada Prison paid a tribute to President Mahinda Rajapakse who is taking steps under the ?Mahinda Chinthana? to give relief to innocent citizens of the country.

?Make the most of the opportunity that you got from the Presidential pardon and try to be good citizens,? he said.