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CPA deeply disturbed over Ratwatte incidents

15 Sep 2021

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has expressed concern regarding the incidents involving the State Minister of Prison Management and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation Lohan Ratwatte.  Referring to allegations of him abusing his position by entering two prisons inebriated, along with attempts to assault remand prisoners at gunpoint, the CPA in a statement said that it reflects “the alarming trend of flaunting political office for personal gratification, the callousness and disregard for the rights of prisoners and human dignity, the use of arms to threaten individuals and the contempt for the rule of law in Sri Lanka,” Furthermore, the CPA called for the immediate resignation of the State Minister and for the authorities to initiate a credible investigation into the incident. It also urged for action to be taken without fear or favour. As this incident occurred whilst Sri Lanka’s human rights record is being discussed at the ongoing 48th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), and the CPA called for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to take swift and firm action into this matter and give priority to the “deteriorating human rights situation” and “entrenched impunity” in Sri Lanka. The statement went on to condemn such incidents occurring against the background of previous incidents of violence including several prison riots which led to the deaths of inmates with no known domestic process of accountability. Earlier allegations levelled against Ratwatte with regard to the murder of ten Muslim youth in Udathalawinne in 2001, where he and several others were indicted for the murders but were subsequently acquitted were also highlighted by the CPA.


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