News
20 Lankan prisoners repatriated from Kuwait Central Jail
Twenty Sri Lankan prisoners, held in Kuwait’s Central Jail, were repatriated to Colombo yesterday (26) under the Kuwait-Sri Lanka Prisoner Exchange Agreement.
The prisoners arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport on a special Kuwaiti Air Force flight.
The agreement, originally signed in 2007, has facilitated the repatriation of 52 Sri Lankan prisoners in total, with 32 inmates having returned earlier in 2024. This latest transfer marks a significant step in the ongoing arrangement between the two countries.
However, reports indicate that no Kuwaiti prisoners are currently held in Sri Lanka’s custody for exchange under the agreement.
The returnees had been convicted of various offenses in Kuwait, including drug use, trafficking, and smuggling. They were arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced to prison terms by Kuwaiti authorities.
Upon arrival, the Prison Department took custody of the prisoners, who were subsequently transferred to the Welikada Magazine Prison in Colombo.