The Court of Appeal today issued an interim order preventing the prison authorities from removing convicted prisoner GampalaWidanage Samantha Kumara alias Wele Sudafrom Boossa Prison premises.
The Court of Appeal bench comprising Justice Arjuna Obeysekara and Justice PriyanthaFernando directed prison authorities to maintain the status quo (maintain the existing state of affairs) regarding the custody of convicted prisoner Wele Suda until May 24 this year.
The order was pursuant to a writ petition filed by the mother of the convicted prisoner Gampala Widanage Samantha Kumara alias Wele Suda.
In her petition, Rajagalgoda Gamage Malani, a resident of Dehiwala sought an order directing prison authorities to take appropriate steps necessary to ensure the safety of her son while in prison custody.
President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva appearing for the petitioner informed the court that his client is in fear that her son would be imminently handed over to the custody of police officers, after which he would be killed, in a similar manner as it happened to several other suspects. De Silva emphasised the necessity of issuing an interim order given the grave urgency on account of imminent danger to the life of his client’s son.
The Court of Appeal directed the petitioner to serve notices on the respondents. The petitioner has named Inspector General of Police, Commissioner General of Prisons, Superintendent Boosa Prison and the Attorney General as respondents.
The petitioner stated that her son who has been convicted and sentenced to death cannot be handed over to the custody of the police, but thereafter removed from the prison premises.
