Thirty-two prison inmates with suspected links to the LTTE may get their release through the courts next Monday and another 30 could be released before November 20, Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan said.
The Sri Lankan government last week decided to move court for bail in respect of a section of Tamil prisoners.
A decision to this effect was taken at a high level meeting attended by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Ministers Tilak Marapana (Law and Order and Prison Reforms); Mano Ganesan (National Dialogue) and D.M. Swaminathan (Rehabilitation and Resettlement).
The prisoners, numbering 217, have been accused of having indulged in terrorist activities and held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act or Emergency laws. They are said to be in jails for varying periods ranging from five years to 15 years.
Minister of National Dialog Mano Ganesan had said that there will be no common amnesty for over 200 prisoners, mostly Tamils, who staged a hunger strike in jails throughout the country.
The prisoners went on a six-day protest hunger strike demanding swift procedural action including a common amnesty.
