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SC grants leave to proceed with FR petition for allegedly being threatened by State Minister Lohan Ratwatte

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By Chitra Weerarathne

The Supreme Court yesterday granted leave to proceed with the fundamental rights violation petition filed by eight prisoners of the Anuradhapura Prison, who had been allegedly threatened by State Minister Lohan Ratwatte.

Leave was granted on the alleged violation under Articles 11, 12(1), and 12(2) of the Constitution, which ensure freedom from inhuman degrading treatment, equality for everyone and freedom from discrimination.

The third respondent, the Commissioner General of Prisons, was directed to transfer these petitioner prisoners to other prisons with their consent.

The Inspector General of Police was directed to investigate the issue with the advice of the Attorney General.

The petitioners have complained that on 12 September, Lohan Ratwatte, the State Minister in charge of the Prisons, visited the prisons, and threatened them at gunpoint.

Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran PC, who appeared for the Prisoners, told the Court that the Justice Minister Ali Sabry PC had conceded in Parliament that the prisoners had been unfairly treated by Ratwatte. Ali Sabry the Minister of Justice had apologised to the prisoners and their families, he said.

President’s Counsel Sumanthiran appeared with K. Sujanthan, Dr. T. Jayasingham and Miss. D. Muscaran for the petitioners.

The Deputy Solicitor General Rajiv Gunetillake appeared for the Attorney General.

He said that the state had no objection to the transferring of the petitioner other than the Jaffna Prison.

The bench comprised Justice Gamini Amarasekera, Justice Yasantha Kodagoda and Justice Janak de Silva.

The case will be next heard on 15th February 2022.



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Department of Irrigation extends flood warnings issued to the basin areas of the Nilwala, Kalu and Gin rivers

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[File pic] The sand bank at the river mouth of the Nilwala river being cleared (pic Matara District Media Unit)

The Amber flood warnings issued by the Hydrology and Disaster Management Division of the Department of Irrigation for the basins of the Nilwala, Gin and  Kalu Rivers  and the sub basin of the Kuda Ganga  which is a tributary of the Kalu Ganga at 9.00am on Friday(28) has been extended for another twenty four (24) hours and will be effective until 9.00am on Saturday (30).

Residents and motorists driving through the area are requested to pay necessary attention to the warning.

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Kerala cannabis with a street value of over Rs. 33 million held by Navy in Kareinagar

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The three sacks contained over 100kg of Kerala cannabis (pic Navy)

A special search operation conducted by the Navy in the beach area of Pumattei on the Kareinagar Island, Jaffna in the dark hours of 27th September 2023 led to the seizure of a dinghy loaded with over 100kg (wet weight) of Kerala cannabis believed to have a street value of over Rs 33 million.

The 49 packages of Kerala Cannabis were in three sacks found in the dinghy. The consignment of Kerala cannabis and the dinghy were taken into  naval custody.

 

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Crystal Methamphetamine valued at over Rs. 15 million held in Dehiwala

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A coordinated search operation conducted by the Navy and Police Crime Division, Colombo led to the apprehension of a suspect with about 1kg and 10g of Crystal Methamphetamine (Ice) in the Dehiwala area on the evening of 27th September 2023.

The gross street value of seized drugs is believed to be over Rs. 15 million.

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