The Supreme Court has directed the IGP to conduct a proper investigation under the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) into the recent incident where State Minister Lohan Ratwatte allegedly entered the Anuradhapura Prison and threatened several prisoners with a firearm.
The Supreme Court issued this Interim Order allowing the hearing of a Fundamental Rights petition filed by eight inmates at the Anuradhapura Prison who were allegedly threatened by the State Minister. The petition was taken up yesterday before a Three-Judge Bench comprising
Supreme Court Judges, Justices Gamini Amarasekera, Yasantha Kodagoda and Janak de Silva.
The Supreme Court also directed the Prisons Commissioner General to take the petitioners from the Anuradhapura Prison and detain them in another suitable prison.
The Supreme Court also issued notices to the respondent State Minister Lohan Ratwatte and the Anuradhapura Prisons Superintendent asking them to file objections to the petition.
President’s Counsel M.A.Sumanthiran appearing on behalf of the petitioners stated that according to the prison rules and regulations, even a prison officer is not allowed to enter the prison with a firearm.
The President’s Counsel stated that in order to take such firearms into the prison, proper legal procedures should be followed. Counsel pointed out that despite such a legal background, Lohan Ratwatte, as the Minister in charge of Prisons, entered the prison with his firearm and threatened the petitioner inmates.
Sumanthiran recalled that Justice Minister Ali Sabry had made a statement in Parliament expressing his regret to the relatives of the prisoners regarding this incident.
Accordingly, the President’s Counsel requested the court to issue an order to the Commissioner General of Prisons to remove their clients from the Anuradhapura Prison and detain them in any prison in the North and East as their lives are in danger.
Deputy Solicitor General Rajiva Goonetileke appearing on behalf of the Attorney General stated that two of the petitioners had agreed to be transferred to the Colombo Prison.
The Supreme Court fixed the petition for support on February 15.
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