President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has accepted State Minister of Prison Management and Prisoners' Rehabilitation Lohan Ratwatte’s resignation, President’s Media Division confirmed a short while ago.
The President Media Division said that State Minister had taken responsibility for the two incidents in which he entered Welikada and Anuradhapura prison complexes along with friends, some under the influence of liquor, and threatened prisoners.
The Minister in the letter of resignation said he is willingly resigning in order to avoid any inconvenience caused to the government.
Earlier today, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa requested President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to immediately remove the minister involved in behaving inappropriately at a state prison.
“I vehemently condemn the disgraceful and illegal behavior of a government minister at the Anuradhapura Prison Complex. This disgusting, unlawful act amply exemplifies the anarchical situation that exists in our country,” Mr. Premadasa said in a tweet.
Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam in a tweet said the State Minister had gone to the Anuradhapura prisons, summoned Tamil political prisoners and had got two of them to kneel in front of him.
“The State Minister had his personal firearm pointed at them and had threatened to kill them on the spot,” Mr. Ponnambalam said.
A Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the No. 72 squadron has crashed into the Madhuru Oya reservoir this morning, Air FOrce Media Spokesman Eranda Geeganage said.
Read this week’s Sunday Times for your interesting articles including the ’’5th Column’’.
In its first electoral test since taking power, the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) fell short of expectations, winning only around 40 % of the national vote in Tuesday’s local government election and falling short of enough seats to gain control of the majority of councils.
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