Appeal Court dismisses Midigama Ruwan’s petition against STF in Boossa Prison

Colombo, Sept. 4 (Daily Mirror) - A writ petition filed by Ruwan Kumara, also known as Midigama Ruwan, an alleged leading figure in the underworld, seeking the removal of the Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel from the Boossa Prison, was dismissed today by the Court of Appeal.

A two-judge bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando dismissed the petition, refusing to issue notices on the respondents.

With this decision, the Court of Appeal affirmed that the STF can continue to engage in law enforcement duties within the prisons when necessary to curb illegal activities.

Additional Solicitor General Shanil Kularatne appeared for the Attorney General.

During submissions, counsel for the petitioner contended that the Boossa Prison had been declared a high-security facility and that STF officers had been assigned to manage both internal and external security, raising concerns about their continued deployment.

However, Additional Solicitor General Shanil Kularatne, representing the Attorney General, objected to the maintainability of the petition. He argued that the petitioner had not approached the court with clean hands and that there was no legal merit warranting judicial consideration of the application.