Justice Minister warns prisons officers:
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara yesterday (23) asked senior officers of the Prisons Department to rid their institution of malpractices or be prepared to face the consequences.
Nanayakkara said that the government wanted them to change. If they weren’t prepared to change, as desired by the government, necessary action would be taken to ensure compliance, the Minister said.
The warning was issued at a meeting called by lawmaker Nanayakkara at the Justice Ministry.
Assuring that the officers wouldn’t be subjected to any political interference, Minister Nanayakkara declared that from now prisons couldn’t function at the behest of various other parties.
Acknowledging that there were honest officers, Minister Nanayakkara said that Superintendents of Prisons couldn’t grant presidential pardons. Nanayakkara said so referring to the ongoing controversy over the releasing of convicts by Prisons Superintendents, taking advantage of presidential and general amnesties granted periodically.
A statement issued by the Justice Ministry quoted Minister Nanayakkara as having said that actions of a few corrupt officers had ruined the reputation of the entire Department.
The Minister alleged that the corruption and irregularities had taken place at the Prisons and the government was in the process of changing the set-up.
Lawmaker Nanayakkara warned that the Prisons shouldn’t operate the way the underworld wanted and they should alert the Ministry if they experienced difficulties in performing their legitimate duties and responsibilities. (SF)