Mechanism to release aging and terminally ill prisoners: Minister

• The Minister said there were large number of prisoners who could be released due to various reasons

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera 

A mechanism would be introduced to release prisoners with terminal illnesses, aging inmates and those with serious illnesses after obtaining the President’s approval, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said yesterday.

He told Parliament that five panels have been appointed to do a scanning of all the inmates in the country and that five more panels would be appointed next week.

He said another panel consisting of three specialist doctors would be appointed through Director General of Health Services and added that this panel would be authorized to recommend the prisoners who should be released. The Minister said there were large number of prisoners who could be released due to various reasons.