December 09, 2009: A group of inmates of the Vavuniya prison has commenced a fast demanding that charges be filed against them or they be released.
“Thirty-five inmates began the fast yesterday. They are in remand custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act,” said Kenneth Fernando, Prisons Commissioner.Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice said that special attention would be drawn towards those in prison under the Prevention of Terrorism Act or Emergency Regulations.
A special unit had been set up under Palitha Fernando, additional solicitor general for the purpose, the ministry said and added that the committee was looking into around 650 inmates at present.
As a result, 59 inmates, who were being held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, had been released over the last two months, said the ministry and expressed hope that relevant steps would be taken with regard to those inmates after assessing all facts availablem the Ministry said.