MAHARA PRISON RIOT : FAMILIES DEMAND JUSTICE

by Zulfick Farzan 24-12-2020 | 6:12 PM

Colombo (News 1st); Families of the victims of the Mahara Prison Riot called on the government to ensure those responsible for the killings are penalized.

At a press conference where emotions ran high on Thursday (24), wives and mothers of the prisoners killed in the riot said their killings were unnecessary.

"My family tried their best to him on to the correct path. We even explored legal options. He was killed in vain," said a mother about her son who imprisoned in the Mahara Prison and died in the November riot.

Another mother alleged, she was not given any details about her son for many days adding the families urging for details of their loved ones were ill-treated and chased away.

11 prisoners were killed in the riot which broke out at the Mahara Prison on the 29th of November.

At present, the autopsy conducted on the deceased revealed 08 of them died of gunshot injuries.

However, before any autopsy was performed, the authorities said the prisoners were killed in a brawl and not due to gunshot injuries.

Senaka Perera, a lawyer with the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners claimed based on the recent comments made by the authorities, it is evident there is an attempt to cover-up what transpired.

Opposition MP Vijitha Herath said the shooting dead of prisoners is an act against democracy and went on to note the prisoners only requested for those infected COVID-19 not to be moved to the Mahara Prison and to offer them better food.

When questioned on certain matters, Prisons Spokesperson & Commissioner Chandana Ekanayake said he cannot comment as the matter is currently pending in court.