Probe into attack in Angunakolapelessa ‘Super Prison’

16 January 2019 04:20 pm

A three-member committee was appointed today to launch a special inquiry into the alleged attack on Angunakolapelessa Prison inmates on November 22 last year, the Prison Reforms and Justice Ministry said.

The committee headed by Prisons Commissioner and Prisons Department Spokesman Thushara Upuldeniya was appointed by Prison Reforms and Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorala.

During a press conference held today in Maradana, the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) made public a sensitive video footage in which prison officials along with the Angunakolapelessa Prison Superintendent beat inmates.

Speaking to the media, CPRP Secretary Sudesh Nandimal Silva urged the authorities to take immediate action over the assault.

He said prisoners were beaten for staging a protest on October 21, 2018 against the deployment of Police STF personnel for internal searches in prison.

The minister’s media unit said Prisons Commissioner-General Nishan Dhanasinghe had been instructed to present a report on the attack before Monday (21), after which further action will be taken by the minister.

The Angunakolapelessa Prison dubbed the ‘Super Prison’ is the country’s first such facility built in line with international standards. It was opened last year due to the overcrowding of the Welikada Prison. (Piyumi Fonseka)