A MP from the north has called for freedom for the Tamil prisoners being held for a long time under the draconian PTA.
TNPF secretary Selvaraja Gajendran made the call in parliament on 23 July, hours after he visited those Tamil prisoners at Welikada prison.
Gajendran said they wanted either a general amnesty or a bail out.
Giving details, the MP said 11 persons are being held for as long as 15 to 29 years.
He said Tamil youths had to take up arms due to government actions, and that accountability is needed for the crimes that had been committed against them thus far.
Responding, justice minister Wijayadasa Rajapaksa said a mechanism has been prepared to grant freedom for prisoners on account of good conduct.
Once tabled in parliament, he said, the support of the Tamil MP is needed for its passage, he said.
