Daily Mirror - Print Edition

Prisoners on roof asked to step down

05 Jan 2014 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}      

A group of 33 condemned prisoners protesting atop the Bogambara prison in Kandy have been asked to step down, for their requests to be considered.

Speaking to Daily Mirror the Commissioner General of Prisons Chandraratna Pallegama said from the discussion held this morning between prison officials and the Ministry of Justice it was decided that the requests of the prisoners could only be considered if they broke their fast and stepped down.

Mr. Pallegama said some of the 33 condemned prisoners on strike atop the prison had been inmates of the jail for around 10 - 12 years and were given neither a death sentence nor a life imprisonment. He said these prisoners were requesting the prison officials to set them free, give them the death sentence or convert their prison sentence into a life imprisonment.

Mr. Pallegama further said if they did step down their requests could be forwarded to the Ministry of Justice, which will then be considered. (Rumana Razick)