Freedom for 278 political prisoners
Consequent to TNA talks:
by P. Krishnaswamy
Two hundred and seventy eight political prisoners whose release the
Tamil community has been agitating for several years will soon be
granted their freedom following talks with the Tamil National Alliance,
party frontliner M.A. Sumanthiran MP told the Sunday Observer. The TNA
will this week discuss with Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe the
procedural methods and the priority categories of prisoners to be
released, he said, adding that a meeting scheduled for last week was
postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.
Many prisoners have not been served any indictments but arrested on
mere suspicion, while many others have been arrested for minor offences,
he said.The TNA after compiling the details held talks with President
Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
They are optimistic that the release of the prisoners will be
finalised at the next round of talks with Minister Rajapakshe, he said. |