By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

The Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) has lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) yesterday urging the immediate arrest of State Minister Lohan Ratwatte over allegedly threatening Tamil prisoners at the Anuradhapura Prison on Sunday.  

The CPRP President Attorney at Law Senaka Perera told Daily Mirror that Lohan Ratwatte could be arrested without a warrant.  

Perera also accused the Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya and Commissioner Chandana Ekanayake of dereliction of duty as public officers of the State by both aiding and abetting in Ratwatte’s actions  
They have neglected their duties as government officials, he said.  He also requested that the necessary steps be taken to protect the CCTV footage of this incident which took place at the Anuradhapura Prison as there  was a risk of it being deleted.  

Meanwhile, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that police could launch an investigation if they received a complaint against the State Minister.