Thalatha denies Ex-Prison Commissioners claims

Thalatha Athukorala rejects allegations over 2012 Welikada Prison Massacre

by Zulfick Farzan 15-09-2020 | 2:57 PM

Colombo (News 1st); Former Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorala on Monday (14) told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry probing incidents of Political Victimization, she never informed anyone directly or indirectly to state that Former Defence Secretary and present President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was involved in the 2012 Welikada Prison Riots where 27 inmates were killed.

Former Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorala and Former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara appeared at the PCoI on Monday (14) following a complaint filed by Former Commissioner of Prisons Emil Ranjan Lamahewa.

The Former Prison Commissioner claims he was arrested with regard to the deaths of 27 inmates during the Welikada Prison Riots which took place on the 09th of November 2012 for politically motivated reasons.

Thalatha Athukorala said during her tenure as Justice Minister she never interfered with any case and therefore rejected the allegations made against her citing they were baseless.

Earlier, in his testimony to the PCoI, Emil Ranjan Lamahewa claimed the Former Justice Minister pressured him to state Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa was involved in the Welikada Prison Massacre.

Further examination of the matter will take place on the 22nd of September.