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Another student education activist tests positive in police custody

13 Sep 2021

  • FSP alleges HR violations over delayed medical attention
By Pamodi Waravita Student activist Koshila Hansamali, who was arrested on 3 August, had tested positive for the Covid-19 virus on 12 September at the Welikada Prison, and the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) alleges serious human rights (HR) violations due to delays in providing medical attention to her. Speaking at a press conference held yesterday (13), FSP Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda said that Perera has been suffering from high fever since 9 September and had been facing serious breathing difficulties on 10 September. Although lawyers and other concerned parties have appealed to the Welikada Prison authorities to provide medical attention to her, she had only been subjected to a PCR test on 12 September. Perera has since been taken to the Ambepussa Quarantine Centre, run by the Prisons Department. At Welikada, she had allegedly been held in a 10 ft. by 12 ft. cell, along with 21 other inmates. Jayagoda charged that this intentional disregard for health guidelines and the reluctance to provide immediate and necessary medical attention to her constitute serious human rights violations. “This is not an isolated incident. Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) Convenor Wasantha Mudalige, Sri Jayewardenepura University General Student Association President Amila Sandeepa, and FSP Administrative Secretary Chameera Koswatta tested positive for the virus last month, after being arrested. Human rights organisations, political parties, and various groups have continuously raised concerns over the risk of arrested student activists being infected with the virus while in prison. However, these concerns have not been regarded by the Commissioner General of Prisons,” claimed Jayagoda. Mudalige, Sandeepa, and Koswatte were sent back to the Welikada Prison from the District General Hospital, Kilinochchi, on 2 September, after only a few days of treatment for Covid-19, which Jayagoda claims the activists contracted after their arrest in the first week of August. Jayagoda also pointed out that Rajarata University student activist Heshan Harshana, who was arrested on 16 August, was not sent to a quarantine centre before being sent to the Welikada Prison. Although the Attorney General’s Department has instructed that bail be prioritised due to the prevailing pandemic situation in the country, Jayagoda alleged that bail is being denied to protestors and critics of the Government. Several education sector unions and activists who had participated in protests during the first week of August were arrested in the past month.   

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