Prisoners are also human beings. They should not be confined to the walls of prisons, Justice Minister Ali Sabry, PC said.
The Minister made these remarks when he went to the Welikada Prison last Thursday to inquire about a protest that had been going on for several days by a group of convicts who had been convicted of various offences.
The Minister had a cordial discussion with the fasting prisoners and listened to the problems and issues of the prisoners. He stated that there are people who continue to commit offences as well as those who commit offences once in a lifetime and that an opportunity should be provided to rectify those wrongdoings. He said that steps would be taken to expedite the resolution of these issues on the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
According to the powers vested in the Minister under the Prisons Act, there is a possibility of granting one week’s leave to prisoners serving good terms and it is hoped that the law will be implemented, the Minister added.
Secretary to the State Ministry of Prison Management and Prison Rehabilitation, Retired Major General V.R Silva, Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya and a group of prison officials were present.
