Application to collect Kalutara bodies rejected

[TamilNet, Monday, 15 December 1997, 23:59 GMT]
A writ application to take the bodies of the Tamil political prisoners who were killed in the Kalutara prison on December 12 to their homes in the north, was rejected by the Kalutara magistrate today. The writ was filed this morning in the Kalutara courts by the Tamil human rights lawyer, Maheswari Velayutham on behalf of the prisoners' families.

The magistrate said that the bodies of the deceased prisoners could not be permitted to be flown to Jaffna due to the security situation prevailing there.

Informed sources said that the Attorney General's Department had tried to dissuade Ms.Maheswari Velayutham from filing the writ.

According to survivors the three Tamil political prisoners were killed in an attack by Sinhala prisoners incited by prison officials. Seven other Tamils were injured in the attack.

Related Articles:
14.12.97   Kalutara survivors vow to continue fast unto death
13.12.97   Jail attack was planned - survivors
12.12.97   Three Tamil prisoners killed by Sinhala inmates
29.11.97   Riot police smashed prison protest
28.11.97   Colombo prison protest spreads