Mahara prison unrest inquiry committee hands over interim report

Tuesday, 8 December 2020 01:48 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Committee headed by retired HC judge hands over report to Justice Minister
Final report will be submitted in a month

The five-member committee headed by retired High Court judge Sarojini Kusala Weerawardena, and appointed by Justice Minister Ali Sabry, to inquire into the Mahara prison incident handed over its interim report yesterday.

Minister Sabry said that the government has taken measures to reduce the congestion in prisons after the COVID-19 outbreak. He said that as of 12 October there had been 32,200 inmates, but this number was reduced to 26,364 by 5 December after pardoning those who were imprisoned for minor offences while others were given parole.

The Committee will give its final report in a month.

Its other members are U.R. De Silva PC, who is an adviser to the Justice Ministry, Justice Ministry Additional Secretary Rohana Hapugaswatta, retired DIG D.R.L. Ranaweera and retired Prison Commissioner Gamini Jayasinghe.

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