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Parents, Guardians Assn. urge release of Lankans

"The Parents and Guardians Association of Sri Lankan Prisoners in the Maldives" is urging the relevant authorities to take swift measures to obtain the release of Lankans who they say are undergoing severe hardships at the Maafushi jail in the Maldives.

The Association's Secretary P. Mudalige told a press conference at the Hotel Nippon on Thursday that at present nearly 40 Sri Lankans are undergoing brutal treatment at the Maafushi jail for falsely imposed offenses. "Most of them have been imprisoned on charges of drug trafficking, but all those charges have been framed by the law enforcement authorities in the Maldives, added Mudalige who has also served a jail-term for a few months on false charges.

Mudalige lamented on the way the Sri Lankan High Commission in the Maldives are acting towards these prisoners." Officials attached to the High Commission are not paying due attention to ensure the protection and welfare of Sri Lankans working in the Maldives and at the same time, they have completely neglected the issue of these prisoners," he added. He said Maldivian judgement for the offenses are partial because the case is completely handled by the Police Department". "The Magistrate merely tends his stamp to the arres. There are no defence lawyers our a case hearing," he added.

Mangala Ranasighe, a committee member said those arrested by the Police on trumped up charges are forced to sign on a false charge sheet. This is the sole proof in deciding the jail-terms." Sometimes those arrested are tortured in order to get their signature for statements written in an unknown language", he added. Ranasinghe added that apart from Sri Lankan prisoners, there were Indians, Bangladesh is and Australians. " But the authorities in those countries have obtained the release of their people

"Looking from another angle keeping those prisoners in jails yields a rich fountain of US dollars for the Maldives as the United Nations Organisation pays nine US dollars for each prisoner held there, he added.(BM)

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