Politics · Sri Lanka Bureau
Rights group claims govt. discriminating in Negombo prison riot compensation
A prisoners' rights advocacy group has alleged that families of remand inmates killed during the Negombo prison riot have yet to receive compensation. The Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners says the victims were awaiting trial, not convicted prisoners.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
The Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) has accused the government of discrimination in its handling of compensation for families affected by the Negombo prison riot. According to the committee's legal representative Senaka Perera, no compensation has been paid to the families of remand prisoners who lost their lives in the incident.
Peera emphasized that all the deceased inmates were remand prisoners—individuals awaiting trial—rather than convicted offenders. Twenty-one remand prisoners and ten prison officers were killed during the riot, which has raised questions about the authorities' response and subsequent accountability measures.
The allegations come amid ongoing scrutiny of the state's handling of the incident and its aftermath. The CPRP's position suggests potential disparities in how compensation is being distributed among victims' families, with possible implications for detainees' rights and state accountability standards.
The matter underscores broader concerns about the treatment of remand prisoners and the legal obligations of authorities to provide adequate compensation and support to those affected by custodial incidents.