Civilians in protective custody to be moved to Kurunagar court building

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 17 October 2007, 11:08 GMT]
Sarath Nanda de Silva, Chief Justice (CJ) of the Supreme Courts of Sri Lanka, issued special order Tuesday to the Jaffna Government Agent (GA) to move more than one hundred civilians, who had recently sought protection with the officials of Human Rights Committee (HRC) and presently kept in protective custody in Jaffna prison, to the upstairs of High courts building in Kurunagar, legal sources in Jaffna said.

According to informed sources, the instructions by CJ have also been intimated to the Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation.

Already a number of civil rights groups in Jaffna peninsula had been agitating that welfare centers should be opened to accommodate these civilians languishing in the prison premises without even the basic facilities.

Meanwhile, a five storied courts complex constructed opposite Subramaniam Park in the vicinity of Jaffna Central College and Jaffna public library is to be opened within the next few weeks.

Jaffna High courts presently operating in the temporary building in Kurunagar, Additional District courts and Labour Courts will be operating in the new building, local sources said.