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SC directs TN Govt. to reconsider issue of premature release of Sri Lankan national incarcerated for nearly 35 yrs

Published

4 years ago

2023/03/2

The Indian Supreme Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to reconsider the issue of premature release of a Sri Lankan convict, who has undergone nearly 35 years of incarceration, the PTI reported yesterday (01)

The apex court, while noting that the petitioner intends to go back to Sri Lanka, as and when he is released, directed that he shall be shifted to an appropriate transit camp, as may be decided by the state.

A bench of Justices A S Oka and Rajesh Bindal noted, it has been stated before the Court, that the state government has set up transit camps where foreigners who have overstayed in India, and refugees, have been accommodated, and if a direction is issued to that effect by the Court, the petitioner can be shifted there.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by petitioner Rajan, who has challenged the state’s February 12, 2021, order, rejecting his prayer for grant of premature release in terms of the February 1, 2018, policy.

“We direct the State of Tamil Nadu to reconsider the issue of premature release of the petitioner in the light of what is observed in this order within a maximum period of three weeks from today,” the bench said in its February 24 order.

It observed that the petitioner has been convicted, sentenced to life imprisonment and has undergone approximately 35 years of incarceration.

The bench noted that the petitioner’s prayer for premature release was considered and rejected by the state on two grounds — seriousness of the crime committed by him and that trials of the co-accused were separated and his premature release would be a hindrance to the conduct of fair trials.

It said the apex court order of March last year refers to an affidavit filed by the state which records that the petitioner’s conduct in jail has been satisfactory.

The bench further noted that the counsel appearing for the Centre has stated before it that on verification, it was found that the petitioner is a citizen of Sri Lanka.

“From the orders which are passed earlier, it is crystal clear that as and when there is an order releasing the petitioner, he intends to go back to Sri Lanka. If he is shifted to a transit camp, the state government can ensure that he does not move out, till he goes back to his own country,” it said.

The bench said it is not the case of the state or the Centre that there are any other offences committed by the petitioner.

“Therefore, considering the overall factual scenario and nationality of the petitioner, the case of the petitioner for premature release will have to be reconsidered by the state government in the light of the policy, dated February 1, 2018, or any other relevant policy, which is applicable to the petitioner,” it said.

“In the meanwhile, we direct that the petitioner shall be shifted to appropriate transit camp as may be decided by the state government,” the bench said, while granting a week time to state to shift him to an appropriate transit camp.

The bench has posted the matter for further hearing on March 27.

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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.