Presidential commission to look into relief for prisoners

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has directed the relevant authorities to consider the possibility of granting relief measures to those in prison for being unable to fulfil their bail conditions over minor offences.

 

The President made this observation at the Presidential Secretariat today (24) when he met with the Special Committee appointed by him to look into the possibility of providing legal relief to those imprisoned for minor offences.

 

The President took the decision to grant relief to these prisoners based on a request they made from him when the state leader visited the prison premises recently.

 

The special committee appointed by the president is expected to meet again on March 26th to receive recommendations regarding legal relief measures for prisoners who are unable to pay their fines or bail.

 

The Legal Committee consists of officials of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) and the Department of Prisons.

 

The special committee includes the Prison Commissioner Jayasiri Tennakoon, President Legal Director General Hariguptha Rohanadheera, Deputy Prison Commissioner Venura Gunawardena, President of the BAR Association President’s Counsel Kalinga Indratissa, Secretary Kaushalya Nawaratne, President’s Counsel Shavendra Silva, Attorney Susara Dinal and several others.