Lohan Ratwatte breaking into Welikada, Anuradhapura prisons RTI Commission orders to release probe report

• The Ministry of Rehabilitation and Prisons Reforms had rejected the request saying the Commission report on the probe has been ordered  by the Cabinet and the information could not be disclosed to the public

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

The Right to Information Commission yesterday ordered the Ministry of Prisons to release the report of the probe on former State Prison Minister Lohan Ratwatte’s controversial visits to Anuradhapura and Welikada prisons in September 2021.    

  The Commission passed the order considering an appeal made by Centre for Society and Religion (CSR) requesting the Commission appointed to probe the incidents of former Prisons State Minister Ratwatte breaking into Welikada and Anuradhapura prisons at night allegedly with a group of friends under the influence of liquor and trying to abuse inmates etc.   
When the RTI request had first been made to the Ministry of Rehabilitation and Prisons Reforms, the latter had rejected it saying the Commission report on the probe has been ordered by the Cabinet and the information could not be disclosed to the public.   

However, when the RTI Commission learnt that the probe commission’s report doesn’t come as a classified document it was ordered to be released to the information applicant before February 23 or face legal action.   When the appeal was heard before Chairman RTI Commission Upali Abeyratne and members attorney’s Kishali Pinto Jayawardena and Jagath Liyana Arachchi and A. M. Nahiya yesterday, the former said legal action will be taken against the Ministry of Prisons under the powers vested in the 39th clause of the RTI Act, if the latter doesn’t comply.   

Attorneys Suren D. Perera and Manushika Cooray with freelance journalist Tharindu Jayawardena appeared on behalf of the CSR, whilst Senior Assistant Secretary M. M. Aleef appeared on behalf of the Ministry of Prisons.