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Embassy officials undertake follow up visit to the Central Jail in Sulaibikhat |
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Monday, 25 May 2009 15:02 |
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As part of Embassy commitments/consular services extended to prison inmates and to follow up matters arising out from the previous visits to the Central Jail in Sulaibikhat, Ambassador Sarath Dissanayake visited Sulaibikhat prison on 21st March 2009 accompanied by Ministers Counsellor, Mr. Sunil Sarath Perera and Mr. Herath Yapa. They met with Sri Lankan inmates both male and female serving prison sentences on charges ranging from drug trafficking, burglary, adultery to attempted murder etc. and discussed their issues and concerns at length. The delegation also had discussions with prison authorities with regard to welfare of prisoners, possibility of prisoner transfer, and reduced prison terms/clemency for inmates seeking early release etc.
During their 3 – hour long stay in the prison they also met with around 50 female prisoners held at the prison on charges relating to adultery, indecent behavior, drug trafficking etc. The majority of the prisoners have appealed to the delegation to make urgent representations with the Kuwaiti authorities so as to arrange their cases/ court hearings expedited in order to seek early repatriation of inmates to Sri Lankan upon completion of their prison terms/ upon granting of special pardon.
It is noteworthy that Sri Lanka and Kuwait have signed an "MOU on Exchange of Prisoner Transfers" during the visit to Kuwait of HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa in June 2007 under which reciprocal exchange of prisoners has been mutually agreed upon. The MOU once ratified by Kuwait will become operational in both countries.
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Last Updated on Saturday, 09 October 2010 08:56 |
