Handcuffed and heart-broken

President Mahinda Rajapaksa's mother Dandina Samarasinghe Dissanayake, passed away on November 3, 1985 - today, 26 years ago. At the time of her death he was imprisoned at the Welikada jail on false charges.

As soon as Rajapaksa heard that his mother was ill, he sought permission from the prison authorities to visit his ailing mother immediately. But he was prevented from doing so.

However, later in a belated move authorities granted approval to Rajapaksa to visit his mother in hospital on November 3rd. He was transported to the Nawaloka hospital by the prison authorities in handcuffs and in an old bus. When ultimately he reached the hospital his mother had passed away, 10 minutes prior to his arrival. On a later date, prison authorities took him to Medamulana to attend his mother's funeral also in handcuffs.