The Ministry of Public Security has said it is prepared to initiate action against former State Minister of Prison Management and Prisoners Rehabilitation Lohan Ratawatte if a complaint is filed over the recent incidents involving two prisons, The Morning reported.
Ratwatte yesterday stepped down from his post after he was accused of forcefully entering the Welikada and Anuradhapura prisons on Sunday (12).
He is reported to have entered the prison complexes with a group of friends while being under the influence of alcohol, while he is also accused of having threatened two prisoners at the Anuradhapura prison at gunpoint.
Commenting on the matter, Public Security Minister, Rear Admiral (Retd.) Sarath Weerasekera said his Ministry is set to take action against the Parliamentarian over the incidents if a complaint is made in this regard.
Stating that the Police Department comes under the purview of the Ministry, he said therefore, the Ministry would be able to take action against the use of weapons inside Prison complexes.
“The gun he has used, I think, is a licensed firearm. However, if somebody makes a complaint related to these incidents, we might be able to take action against it according to the law,” Minister Weerasekera added.
The President’s Media Division (PMD) yesterday announced that Lohan Ratwatte has accepted responsibility for the incidents involving him at the Welikada and Anuradhapura Prisons premises.
The PMD added that Ratwatte had therefore decided to resign from his post as the State Minister of Prison Management and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation. (NewsWire)