Defenders of Tamil political prisoners’ rights meet President Sirisena

Nov 23, 2016

After number of demonstrations, protest marches and press conferences activists of National Movement for Release of Political Prisoners will meet President Maitripala Sirisena today (Nov. 23) at Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

“The present government also has given number of promises to Tamil political prisoners. But they did not fulfill their promises,” said convener of National Movement for Release of Political Prisoners Father Marimuttu Sathivel at a press conference held at Center for Society and Religion in Colombo (CSR) on Nov. 21.

“Thirty Tamil political prisoners send a letter to the president and urged him to take prompt action to release them. But they did not receive a response president for their letter.”

According to Father Sathivel they have organized signature campaign in different places in north and south for pressure the government to release of Tamil political prisoners

He added, “We are going to hand over the peoples’ petition on to the president and urge him to release Tamil inmates.”

Tamil inmates organized several hunger strikes during last decade.

Talking to Lanka News Web Lawyer Srinath Perera said that there are some Tamil political prisoners in the jail more than ten years.

“Government should take a necessary action to release them as soon as possible,” said Perera, steering committee member of National Movement for Release of Political Prisoners.

“We have decided to organize a awareness campaign on aware the public on the issue of Tamil political prisoners by distributing hand bills,” said convener of National Movement for Release of Political Prisoners.

By Lawrence Ferdinando -Colombo