• Says a Govt that cannot manage prisons cannot govern the country

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday (2) questioned whether a Government that could not manage the country's prison system was capable of improving the lives of Sri Lanka's 22 million people.

Addressing a public meeting in Maligakanda, Borella, he said the Government had failed to maintain order within the prison system, raising serious doubts about its ability to address the country's wider challenges.

Premadasa recalled that only a few days ago the Government had mocked the Opposition after voting against its no-confidence motion against the Minister of Justice and National Integration in Parliament. However, he said, within days of that vote, unrest had broken out at the Mahara Prison.

He added that the same Government which had voted to protect the Minister was now once again forced to deal with unrest at Mahara. "A Government that cannot manage a prison cannot rebuild a country," he said, alleging that instead of rebuilding the nation, the administration was destroying it.