Government To Amend Bail Laws For Drug-Related Offences

COLOMBO (News 1st); Minister of Justice and National Integration Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara says the law governing bail for suspects arrested in connection with drug-related offences will be amended.

The Minister made this statement while issuing a special announcement regarding recent incidents at several prisons.

Meanwhile, the Prisons Department said that investigations have been launched into the unrest that occurred at the Magazine and Kuruwita prisons, as well as the Pallansena Open Prison Camp.

Prison Media Spokesperson A.C. Gajanyake said security at these institutions has been strengthened by deploying personnel from the Sri Lanka Police, Police Special Task Force (STF) and Tri-Forces.

He also said that following the unrest among inmates at the New Magazine Prison on Thursday, 11 injured inmates were admitted to the prison hospital, while nine others were transferred to another prison.

The death toll during the unrest at the New Magazine and Kuruwita prisons, as well as the Negombo Pallansena Open Prison Camp, stands at 3.

The number of injured is close to 77.

Meanwhile, the clash that occurred at the Negombo Prison on July 5 resulted in 32 deaths and over 100 injuries.

The President’s Media Division stated that a joint mechanism will be established to address issues faced by inmates, oversee their welfare, and determine procedures to be followed in the event of an emergency.

The decision was taken during a discussion held under the patronage of the President at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday evening.