The Court of Appeal today granted permission to remove convicted prisoner Gampala Widanage Samantha Kumara alias Wele Suda from Boossa Prison, for medical treatments.  

At a previous occasion, the Court of Appeal had issued an order preventing the prison authorities removing convicted prisoner Samantha Kumara alias Wele Suda from Boossa Prison premises consequent to a writ petition filed by his mother. In her petition, Rajagalgoda Gamage Malani, a resident of of Dehiwala had sought an order directing prison authorities to take appropriate steps necessary to ensure the safety of her son while he is in the prison custody.

The petitioner through her counsel informed court that an order issued by the Court of Appeal prohibiting his son's removal from prison had become an impediment to her son receiving medical care.

Court of Appeal Justices Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola observed that removing him from prison for medical treatment would not be an impediment.

The petitioner stated that she is in fear that her son would be imminently handed over to the custody of police officers, after which he would be killed, in a similar manner as it happened to several other suspects. 

The petitioner has named Inspector General of Police, Commissioner General of Prisons, Superintendent Boosa Prison and the Attorney General as respondents.

The Petitioner states that several other persons alleged to be leading underworld figures in Sri Lanka have recently been killed while in police custody, namely Dineth Melan alias Uru Juwa on or about 11 May 2021, and Tharaka Wijesekera alias Kosgoda Tharaka on or about 13th May 2021.

The petitioner states that the said killings took place after representations were made to the Police regarding the safety of the said persons who were killed.

The Petitioner further states that the Attorney at Law for the said Tharaka Wijesekera has specifically warned on social media that his client would be killed, just hours prior to the said killing.

The Petitioner states that previously, Madush Lakshitha alias Makandure Madush was also killed in police custody on or about 20th October, 2020.  (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)