Sick leave campaign by prison officials, court calls for report

The  Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage has sought a report from the Commissioner General of Prisons over the failure to produce remand prisoners in courts today following trade union by jail guards.

The prisoners were not produced as the All-Ceylon Prison Officers’ Union have reported ‘sick leave’ from today (20) until May 22, demanding an increase in wages by Rs. 25,000. 

Prison Department Spokesman Gamini Dissanayake said that they were treating the incident of failure produce prisoners in courts today as contempt of court.

He said that disciplinary action would also be initiated against those who failed to report to work.

Meanwhile in Galle, the Prisons Department has sought the assistance of the Police to provide security.

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe addressing a press conference later in the day said that that the Prison official had no right to disrupt judicial activities.

However, he said there has been an injustice to prison officials and that  measures would be taken to provide relief to them.

He said, though in 2013 Police personnel were provided an increase, the prison officials were not given an increase.

Pix by Indika Handuwala