SL Prime Minister twists figures on Tamil prisoners

[TamilNet, Friday, 12 May 2017, 20:49 GMT]
Ranil Wickramasinghe, the prime minister of genocidal Sri Lanka is twisting the figures of Tamil prisoners, who are languishing in the prisons in the North and South, say Tamil rights activists who are voicing for the release of Tamil political prisoners. TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran, who raised the issue of political prisoners with SL Prime Minister in the beginning of 2017 had gone on record quoting Mr Wickramasinge as coming with the figure of 213, including 49 ‘convicted’ prisoners. Now, the SL PM has again reduced the figure to 98, Tamil rights activists said observing latest information coming from the TNA parliamentarian. The rights activists have condemned the SL Prime Minister and the SL State for giving contradictory figures and for refusing to recognise the Tamil Prisoners of War at least as political prisoners.

According to the latest figure from Mr Wickramasinghe, there are only 47 convicted Tamil prisoners and 51 detainees, whose cases are yet to be processed.

Colombo has underplayed the figures, says Human Rights Activist Rev Fr M Sakthivel, who has been voicing for the release of Tamil political prisoners.

The SL State has been systematically refusing to recognise Tamil prisoners as political prisoners.

There are 76 Tamil political prisoners in one single prison alone, at Magazine in Colombo. There are political prisoners who have been languishing in the prison between 8 and 24 years.

In addition, there are many Tamil prisoners in the prisons in Jaffna, Vavuniyaa, Anuradhapura, Welikade and at Bossa.

Tamil rights activists recently urged SL President to consider releasing at least some of the Tamil political prisoners on the occasion of Vesak and the visit by Indian PM Narendra Modi. But, none of the political prisoners were released. Maithiripala Sirisena gave amnesty to a section of prisoners from South.

Chronology: