Sumanthiran meets PM to discuss plight of Tamil prisoners

Former TNA parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran handing over the details of 90 prisoners to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa

 yesterday 

• Hands over details of 90 prisoners, some being held in remand for 10-20 years
• Requests pardon for some convicted prisoners and release of remand prisoners

Former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran called on Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday night to hand over the details of  90 Tamil prisoners who are either serving long jail sentences or are in remand prison for many years, requesting that some of them be considered for release.

Out of the 90 prisoners, 47 are convicted of various offences and have exhausted all avenues of appeal while the rest are in remand prisons with some cases dragging on for as long as 20 years.

The TNA member requested the Prime Minister to intervene to facilitate a pardon for some of the convicted prisoners through President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and also seek the advice of the Attorney General with regards to the remand prisoners.