Minister of Youth and Sports Namal Rajapaksa yesterday (21) stated that those still in remand on suspicion of LTTE Terrorism should be released. He stated that there were people who had been imprisoned for their lifetimes and that these persons should be rehabilitated before their release. "Recently, I found out about a person who is still in remand for a long time under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. But further investigations have revealed that his crime was cutting off a branch of a tree. How is it possible that this person is still imprisoned?" he stated. He said that the true criminals who had committed acts of terrorism have been given immunity while those who have committed no crime are still behind bars. Responding to this, Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka stated that this is a reason for overcrowding of prisons and steps should be taken to release prisoners who have been imprisoned for a long time on suspicion of LTTE related acts. Fonseka stated that court cases should be heard on behalf of these prisoners. Further, he also stated that such persons should be rehabilitated. "If we have released 3,500 rehabilitated prisoners to civil services from 12,500 persons, we can also rehabilitate these prisoners," he said.