Justice Min. dispatches official to probe Welikada prison protest

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and Prison Reforms, W.M.M. Adikari stated a special official was dispatched to the Welikada Prison this morning (August 14), to look into the protest launched by female inmates on top of the prison roof. The Secretary to the Ministry also stated that she had informed the Commissioner General of prisons to request the prisoners to call off their strike and come down for discussions. The 20 inmates who have launched the strike are those who have been convicted on charges related to drug racketeering. Adikari also believes that the protest was one that was planned to express their opposition against the transfer of a jailer who has been linked to drug smuggling. The Secretary to the ministry noted that a special investigation has been launched into the actions of the jailer in question.