Over 200 inmates in Welikada and Bogambara Prisons on hunger strike

16 September 2017 02:27 pm - 8 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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At least 150 remand prisoners, sentenced to death and serving life imprisonment in the Welikada Prison, launched a hunger strike yesterday, Prisons Spokesperson Thushara Upuldeniya said.

This follows close on the heels of a hunger strike launched by around 50 inmates of the Bogambara Prison on Thursday (14).

Upuldeniya said the Welikada remand prisoners, who had refused to eat since yesterday morning, were demanding to be paroled via a common pardon.

Upuldeniya said their demand would not be fulfilled immediately as they needed to wait for the recommendations of a committee headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Nimal Dissanayaka, appointed by the Justice Ministry in 2013, to decide on the fate of prisoners on death row.

Currently, Welikada Prison houses more than 200 prisoners on death raw and more than 150 serving life sentences.

Upuldeniya hinted that the hunger strike might be an attempt by some outside organization to sabotage the peaceful environment that exists in the prison system.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Attorney at Law Senaka Perera, representing the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners said that more than 50 prisoners at the Bogambara prison were still refusing to eat.

“Prisoners in all the prisons, including the one in Bogambara, are living hellish lives, as all prisons lack even basic facilities. The authorities should open their eyes and take appropriate measures to solve these long-standing issues,” he said. (Piyumi Fonseka and J.A.L. Jayasinghe)

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Comments - 8

SL Saturday, 16 September 2017 03:49 PM

There were occasions where many convicted were released and then committed crimes again (i.e.killing).They were sent to jail since they are a threat to the public.So ,keep them inside without letting innocents at risk.

Bala Saturday, 16 September 2017 04:10 PM

Send them to prison hospitals and other govt hospitals as they must be suffering malnutrition (get chinese food like recent inmates) and diabetes and enlarged liver like recent inmates. Why only these fellows treated badly.

kapila Saturday, 16 September 2017 04:16 PM

Saving the hard working tax paper some money. Something positive at last. This should be promoted at all prisons.

ravin Saturday, 16 September 2017 04:44 PM

Will they order chinese food as well

ed Sunday, 17 September 2017 05:50 AM

WHO HAS STARTED THIS AT CRUCIAL MOMENT WHEN THE PRESIDENT IS GOING TO ADDRESS THE UN? WHY NOW? THIS HAS TO BE INVESTIGATED, THIS IS NO JOKE !!!THIS COULD BE A SABOTAGE BY THE JOINT OPPOSITIONS! THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO DESTABILIZE THE GOVERNMENT AND TO GET THE GMOA, TRADE UNIONS AND THE POPULATION TO THE ROAD AND PROTEST.OUR LAW SHOULD BE ENFORCED AND BRING THE INSTIGATORS TO FACE JUSTICE !!!!

AUSLANKA Sunday, 17 September 2017 07:10 AM

I am not against spending lavishly on prisoners because most politicians living a lavish life on public money but belongs in prisons.

ceylon Sunday, 17 September 2017 11:25 AM

sirisena protecting them from leagaly approved executions fir killings.so let them to do it by themselves. via DM Android App

Hautaum Sunday, 17 September 2017 02:02 PM

If do not have good Schools, then prisons should be good.who comes out from School/Prison has good quality of humanity and disciplinary manner as it will be the social Justice

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Over 200 inmates in Welikada and Bogambara Prisons on hunger strike

Comments - 8

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