Friday Forum Wants Welikada And Vavuniya Prison Riots Reports Make Public
June 6, 2013
The Friday Forum wants Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms to make public the findings of the two Committees appointed to investigate the events that took place in the Welikada prison and Vavuniya prison.
We publish below the letter in full;
5th June 2013.
Hon. Chandrasiri Gajadeera,
Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms,
Ministry of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms,
35, N. M. Perera Mawatha,
Colombo 8.
Dear Minister,
An Appeal for the Early Publication of the Reports on the Welikada and Vavuniya Prison Riots
This intervention is made in a spirit of democratic engagement by the Friday Forum, a group of concerned citizens who have come together to consider current issues of public interest with a view to making a contribution to peace, democracy, good governance and social justice in Sri Lanka.
When persons in the custody of a state institution meet with violent death it is a matter of the widest public concern, well beyond the immediate one of the victims and their families.
The Friday Forum wishes to urge you to make public the findings of the Committee appointed to investigate the events that took place in the Welikada prison, Colombo, in November 2012 resulting, inter alia, in the death of some 27 inmates, with 43 inmates injured and 11 inmates reported escaped.
The Friday Forum likewise urges you to make public the findings of the Committee appointed to investigate the events that took place in the Vavuniya prison, in June 2012 resulting, inter alia in the death of 2 inmates out of the 30 inmates reported as injured.
We would be grateful if you would grant an appointment for representatives of the Friday Forum to meet you in this regard.
Yours sincerely,
Jayantha Dhanapala and Professor. Savitri Goonesekere
on behalf of the Friday Forum- the Group of Concerned Citizens
cc. Secretary to the President.
US Govt. Funded $2.1 Million For DNA Crime Lab In Sri Lanka
June 6, 2013
The U.S. Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of Justice, entered into a $2.1 million (265 million rupee) U.S. Government-funded Forensic Assistance Program agreement with GAD in 2011 to establish a state-of-the-art DNA crime laboratory.
Deputy Govt. Analyst Mrs. Sakunthala Tennakoon, U.S. Ambassador Michele J. Sison, and Acting Government Analyst Mr. W.D.G.S. Gunatilake tour the new Government Analyst’s Department DNA laboratory.
U.S. Ambassador Michele J. Sison visited the new laboratory complex of the Sri Lanka Ministry of Justice Government Analyst’s Department (GAD) in Battaramulla on June 6.
During her visit, Ambassador Sison said, “This grant delivered a state-of-the-art DNA crime laboratory as well as equipment to support firearms examination and drug and toxicology analysis. This project is a tangible demonstration for U.S. support to strengthen rule of law in Sri Lanka.”
“The program will provide Sri Lankan citizens with greater access to justice by enhancing legitimate prosecutions of criminals. The DNA laboratory will develop Sri Lanka’s DNA analysis capability and make a significant contribution to the technical enhancement of the country’s criminal justice system. The grant also included an $80,000 (10 million rupee) bullet recovery tank for the firearms laboratory to discharge weapons safely and easily recover the bullets and casings for forensic comparisons, and a $225,000 (28 million rupee) toxicology lab with analytical tools to assist in drug, toxicology and trace evidence analysis. The program also facilitated training in the U.S. for 6 Sri Lankan GAD scientists at Oklahoma State University, which has an internationally renowned forensics research and training program.
The laboratory will be functional for tests required for court cases by mid-August 2013 and GAD scientists will continue to receive on the job technical training from U.S. experts until December 2013.” says the US Embassy Colombo.
