Mechanism to release aging and terminally ill prisoners: Minister

A mechanism would be introduced to release prisoners with terminal illnesses, aging inmates and those with serious illnesses after obtaining the President's approval, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said today.

He told Parliament that five panels have been appointed to do a screening of all the inmates in the country and that five more panels would be appointed next week.

He said another panel consisting of three specialist doctors would be through Director General of Health Services and added that this panel would be authorised to recommend the prisoners who should be released.

The Minister said there are a large number of prisoners who could be released due to various reasons. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)