HRCSL writes to Prisons Commissioner regarding ex-CID Head

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCLS) wrote to the Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya yesterday and expressed concern about complaints it had received about the health and safety of former Crime Investigation Division (CID) Head Shani Abeysekera.

“We write to draw your immediate attention to this complaint and urge that strong preventive measures be taken to protect his life, which is in your custody,” HRCSL Commissioner in charge of Investigations Ramani Muttettuwegama said in a letter to Upuldeniya. The letters come in the backdrop of reports that the former Director of the CID has contracted COVID-19 while being in remand custody at Mahara Prison. 

Muttettuwegama said that the HRCSL das received several complaints from the family members of Abeysekera citing a health situation or his whereabouts and urged the Prisons Commissioner to provide information to the remandee’s family regarding his health, COVID-19 status and whereabouts.

“We are surprised to be informed that Abeysekera, with multiple health issues, has been transferred to the Treatment Centre for prisoners at Gallella. We have been made to understand that the better treatment is available at the Welikanda Treatment Hospital,” Muttettuwegama pointed out, recommending that Abeysekera be moved to Welikanda Treatment Hospital for treatment. (AF)