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by Ranil Wijayapala

PTA detainees at the Kalutara prison yesterday temporarily suspended their hunger strike following an assurance by Minister Milinda Moragoda and TNA MPs that speedy action will be taken for their release and hearing of their cases.

The prisoners ended their hunger strike after drinking fruit juice given by the visiting Ministers and MPs last afternoon, prison sources said.

PTA detainees on hunger strike at other prisons are also expected to give up their strike. Jaffna District MP A. Vinayagamoorthi told the Daily News that TNA MPs met Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to discuss the issue of fasting prisoners at Kalutara, Batticaloa, Welikada and other prisons yesterday.

Vinayagamoorthi said the prisoners agreed to temporarily suspend their hunger strike on the grounds that a permanent solution to their problem would be found within 30 days.

The prisoners handed over a letter to Moragoda to be handed over to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe requesting general amnesty for all PTA detainees.

The Minister also assured that he will visit the Kalutara prison in about one month.

He assured of an improvement in the situation by his next visit to the prison. He emphasised that the Prime Minister's approach of taking one step at a time would improve the situation. Mannar Bishop Rayappu Joseph, Ministers Dr. Jayalath Jayawardane and T. Maheshwaran and TNA MPs also visited the Kalutara prison.

The PTA detainees commenced a hunger strike on October 1 demanding early release and speedy hearing of their cases.

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