Maximum punishment for prison rioters - minister

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

Rehabilitation and Prisons Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera yesterday said that maximum punishment could be given to those who are responsible for the clashes that took place at the Magazine prison, with the release of an interim report.

The investigation committee which was to inquire into the clashes at the Magazine prison will hand over the report on January 31.

Based on this interim report, tough action will be taken without any hesitation against the responsible parties so as to ensure a peaceful atmosphere in prisons and moreover to streamline the prison administration.

The minister was addressing media yesterday at the Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Ministry.

He said that the prisoners will not be allowed to interfere in prison administration.

However, there is a proper way for prison inmates to express any allegation in a peaceful manner.

The minister noted that the ministry has been engaging in streamlining prison administration in all prisons.

'Such clashes will never be a hindrance to this process' he said.

Speaking about the progress of the ongoing investigations, Minister Gajadeera noted that the clash might be a result of a premeditated programme. According to investigations, the inmates had tried to escape from the prison through the main entrance. Further investigations are being carried out to find out whether the prisoners were induced by certain officials of the prison to go for such a clash.

As a result of the clash, 26 inmates and five prison guards were injured before Security Forces personnel together with prison guards brought the situation under control after five hours. Prisoners also set fire to the record room.

The inmates were protesting a move to curtail drug smuggling into the prison and the removal of Superintendent of Prisons.

Magazine Prison Superintendent Chamil Ranjith Lamahewage said that the prison is in a position to recover the necessary details even though the records were destroyed. According to him, the data of prisoners is available with many other institutions, such as, courts, the Police and so on, he added.