President Abdulla Yameen has instructed authorities to hand over all Sri Lankan prisoners in the country to the Government of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of External Affairs has said that the move comes in response to a request from President Mahinda Rajapaksa, on humanitarian grounds.
“Fifteen Sri Lankan prisoners are currently serving sentences in Maldives. They had appealed to President Rajapaksa for their transfer to Sri Lanka in order to be close to their families,” explained the Sri Lankan government.
The transfer of the prisoners comes two days after the ratification of the Maldives’ first Extradition Act and one day before Sri Lanka’s presidential elections – though it is unclear if the decision is linked to either.
After having appeared certain of victory, President Rajapaksa now faces stiff opposition from his former health minister Maithripala Sirisena in tomorrow’s poll.
Minivan News was unable to obtain comment from the President’s Office or the Attorney General’s Office, though legal experts have explained that prisoner transfer has been carried out on an ad hoc basis even before the introduction of extradition legislation.
The Majlis passed the Extradition Act on December 25, which requires the criminals to have exhausted all appeal processes and to have agreed to the transfer.
Presidents Rajapaksa and Yameen were said to have discussed expediting the exchange of prisoners during the latter’s official visit to Sri Lanka 12 months ago.
The Sri Lankan government has said that the prisoners will complete their sentences in their home country – a point that is also mandated under the new legislation
“President Rajapaksa and the Government of Sri Lanka are most appreciative of this timely goodwill gesture by President Yameen and the Government of Maldives,” read the ministry’ statement.
The case of Rubeena Buruhanudeen – an Indian national held in pre-trial detention for four and a half years in the Maldives – has this week prompted the Chief Minister of Kerala Oommen Chandy to promise steps will be taken to ensure prospective job-seekers to the Maldives are aware of the legal complications they may face.
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