Pointing out that the report on the Welikada Prison riot has not been released over a year after the incident, the United National Party today accused the government of delaying the report hoping that people would forget as time goes by.

Several inmates were killed and many more injured after a riot broke out at the Welikada Prison on November 09, 2012.

“What actually happened in Welikada on that day were murders,” UNP Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella said, addressing a press briefing today.

He stated that the prisoners were in the care of the government and that it cannot be denied.

Armed forces personnel entered the Welikada Prison for a search operation, which requires a search warrant issued by court according to the existing laws in the country, he said.

However, on that fateful day they had entered the prison to carry out a search operation without obtaining permission from a court and the rest is history, the Kandy District MP said.  

“I think around 90 inmates were killed. Some were still handcuffed when they were murdered,” he claimed.  

“If people under the custody of the government are murdered in such a manner, you can imagine what is happening to the people in other provinces,” he said.

Kiriella stated that the relatives of slain prisoners had met him and demanded justice for their kith and kin.   

He reminded that the government had said a committee will be appointed to probe the incident and that the law will be implemented after their report is submitted.

The report has still not been released over a year after the incident, he said adding, that the government thinks the problem will be forgotten as time passes by.  

The UNP MP urged the government to make the report public immediately and to punish those responsible for this “massacre”.

Kiriella stated it is when there is no solution within the country for the murders taking place in the country that they are dragged to the international spotlight. “No one can blame that.”