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Ranjan’s visitation rights same as what is given to other prisoners: Prison spokesman
View(s):Former MP Ranjan Ramanayake is accorded the same visitation rights as other prisoners, the Department of Prisons insisted, in response to the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s complaint that his visitation rights had been curtailed.
SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna told the Sunday Times that they had been informed that they could visit Mr. Ramanayake only one Wednesday a month. Such restrictions amounted to further political victimisation of Mr Ramanayake, he said adding that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who visited Mr Ramanayake at the Angunokolapelessa Prison on Tuesday, would take up the matter with the authorities.
Convicted prisoners are entitled to visits only once a month and there are no exceptions to this prisoner, Prisons Spokesman Chandana Ekanayake said.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa speaking to the media after visiting Ranjan Ramanayake
Remand prisoners were entitled to visits every day. But due to the present pandemic situation, even remand prison visits have been curtailed to one day a week.
Mr Ekanayake also refuted claims that prison officials had informed the SJB that Mr Ramanayake could only be visited on a Wednesday. “He can be visited on any day each month. There is no rule that it has to be on a Wednesday.”
Mr Ekanayake, however, said Parliamentarians had the privilege to visit any prisoner at any time. “That situation has not changed. An MP can visit Mr Ramanayake on any day.”
Mr Ramanayake’s visiting privileges were briefly suspended for two weeks last month after Mr Rajakaruna posted a selfie with the former MP during a visit to the prison. This suspension has now expired.
Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa visited Mr Ramanayake at the Angunukolapelessa prison on Friday evening.