HRCSL intervenes to protect the prisoner’s right to vote

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has informed relevant institutions to take necessary steps to give voting rights to remand prisoners in the upcoming elections.

Commissioner Nimal Punchchihewa said that these instructions were given in a meeting yesterday, with the participation of officials from the Election Commission, Department of Prisons, Election Monitoring Bodies and Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners.

He said that this discussion was based on a complaint made by the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners to the Human Rights Commission.

The discussion focused on practical challenges in ensuring prisoners who are legally eligible to vote, cast their vote in the upcoming presidential election.

The key challenges include logistical constraints, security and ensuring the integrity of the voting process within the prison facilities.