United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Hanaa Singer-Hamdy tweeted that it is the duty of a State to protect the rights of prisoners.

Yesterday (14), Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) leader - MP Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam Tweeted that State Minister of Prisons - Lohan Ratwatte had made two Tamil political prisoners at Anuradhapura prison kneel before him, and threatened to shoot them on the spot.

MP Ponnambalam said Tamil political prisoners are “already traumatised for being held in detention under one of the most draconian pieces of legislation known to the world, the PTA.

The incident had sparked outrage and widespread condemnation.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had called for an immediate inquiry to be followed by charges filed against the state minister.


Former Sri Lanka Human Rights Commissioner Ambika Satkunanathan has said that persons held under the PTA are vulnerable to discrimination, harassment or violence in prison.


Opposition Leader - Sajith Premadasa too, has condemned the incident and urged the President to remove the minister immediately. However, Mr. Premadasa's Twitter threat was also criticized by many for his failure to name the minister involved.

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Lohan makes 2 Tamils prisoners kneel, threatening to kill them!