500 Prison Guards Stage Boycott
BY PREMALAL WIJERATNA
October 8, 2014
Over 500 prison officials attached to Welikada Prison boycotted duties since yesterday morning causing disruption to prison routine works even hindering the transport of prisoners to Courts.
A prison guard union official said their members attached to Welikada Prison, Colombo Remand Prison, Magazine Prison and Female Prison Guards have joined the boycott. Because of the boycott transport of 300 remand prisoners to Courts came to a standstill.
The same source revealed the boycott had been launched by prison guards and officials due to the failure of prison authorities to resolve nearly 20 grievances forwarded by them. Their main grievance is the interdiction of one of their members without any proper inquiry.
They said their members who take prisoners to Court were being penalized when suspects in Court cells were found with cigarettes and other prohibited items. In addition, they were dissatisfied with the manner the authorities treated Prison Intelligence Unit officers who enjoy more privileges than others.
When asked about the boycott, Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister, Chandrasiri Gajadeera said prison officers boycotting their duties was illegal. "In another way it affects prisoners also and when they are not taken to Court on trial dates their cases get postponed", he pointed out.
The Minister emphasized that the prison officers and guards should have taken up the issue with the Prison Commissioner or the Ministry Secretary or himself as the minister. But they had failed to do so, he noted.
He also said that some officers who were found to have flouted prison rules have been charged under disciplinary procedures. The Minister also said several senior officers at Welikada Prison were summoned for a meeting with him yesterday. Ministry Secretary G. S. Vithanage said the boycotting parties had not informed the Ministry about their action.
Two cops jailed for torture
By Menaka Indrakumar- October 8, 2014
Two police officers were sentenced to four years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs. 10,000 each, by the Badulla High Court, for having tortured two suspects who were in the custody of the Ampara Police.
The two officers found guilty and convicted were the Officers-in-Charge (OIC) of the Crime Investigations Branch and the Traffic Branch of the Ampara Police.
BY PREMALAL WIJERATNA
October 8, 2014
Over 500 prison officials attached to Welikada Prison boycotted duties since yesterday morning causing disruption to prison routine works even hindering the transport of prisoners to Courts.
A prison guard union official said their members attached to Welikada Prison, Colombo Remand Prison, Magazine Prison and Female Prison Guards have joined the boycott. Because of the boycott transport of 300 remand prisoners to Courts came to a standstill.
The same source revealed the boycott had been launched by prison guards and officials due to the failure of prison authorities to resolve nearly 20 grievances forwarded by them. Their main grievance is the interdiction of one of their members without any proper inquiry.
They said their members who take prisoners to Court were being penalized when suspects in Court cells were found with cigarettes and other prohibited items. In addition, they were dissatisfied with the manner the authorities treated Prison Intelligence Unit officers who enjoy more privileges than others.
When asked about the boycott, Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister, Chandrasiri Gajadeera said prison officers boycotting their duties was illegal. "In another way it affects prisoners also and when they are not taken to Court on trial dates their cases get postponed", he pointed out.
The Minister emphasized that the prison officers and guards should have taken up the issue with the Prison Commissioner or the Ministry Secretary or himself as the minister. But they had failed to do so, he noted.
He also said that some officers who were found to have flouted prison rules have been charged under disciplinary procedures. The Minister also said several senior officers at Welikada Prison were summoned for a meeting with him yesterday. Ministry Secretary G. S. Vithanage said the boycotting parties had not informed the Ministry about their action.
Two cops jailed for torture
By Menaka Indrakumar- October 8, 2014
Two police officers were sentenced to four years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs. 10,000 each, by the Badulla High Court, for having tortured two suspects who were in the custody of the Ampara Police.
The two officers found guilty and convicted were the Officers-in-Charge (OIC) of the Crime Investigations Branch and the Traffic Branch of the Ampara Police.
