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| Tuesday, 4 February 2003 |
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The High Commission of Maldives in Sri Lanka refers to recent reports published in Sri Lankan newspapers concerning Sri Lankan nationals serving prison sentences in the Maldives. The allegations made are totally false and baseless. Prisoners in the Maldives are well treated and are not subjected to ill-treatment as alleged, and conditions in the prison are according to independent foreign observers, very good. Consular visits by foreign government officials, including those of Sri Lanka are permitted. Prisoners are allowed to communicate with their families. Prisoners are not discriminated against on the basis of nationality or on any other basis whatsoever. Persons convicted of criminal offences are sentenced by the court depending on the gravity of the offence committed and in accordance with the law. Drug-trafficking is treated as a very serious crime irrespective of the nationality of the offender. The total number of Sri Lankan nationals serving criminal sentences for imprisonment in the Maldives is 27, out of whom 20 are serving 25 year sentences for drug-trafficking. The rest are serving their sentences for crimes such as other drug related offences, murder, and child molesting. All accused persons are tried to open court, in due process and in accordance with the law. All foreign nationals tried for criminal offences are provided interpreters by the court. Everyone has the right to legal counsel. No court accepts a document signed by an accused in a language that he/she does not understand. All expenses of prisons and all costs of the upkeep of prisoners in their entirety, whether they are Maldivians or nationals of other countries, are borne by the Government of the Maldives. No outside organisation or agency does, or is required to, contribute to those expenses, the embassy states. |
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