The shooting down of an innocent Sri Lankan visitor to Madurai central jail last Friday, by the security guard has raised hackles with the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission, conveying its concern to the Tamil Nadu Government.

While the Government has ordered a magisterial enquiry, human rights groups have demanded action against officials concerned.

Warnakulasooriya Canicius Fernando (44) of Negombo, near Colombo, had gone to the prison to see his fishermen friends lodged there after the capture of their boat by the Indian Coast Guard on June 13.

Fernando, believed to be a Sinhalese, was a member of the All Ceylon Fisher People’s Trade Union for Migrant Fishermen.

 He was carrying a letter dated September 24 from deputy high commission councillor S Khan that he was visiting India to secure the release of the fishing vessel and the crew, and seeking the co-operation of authorities. Additional Director General of Police        (Prisons) R Sekhar, who visited the prison on Saturday, told reporters that Fernando had chosen to enter the prison through the high-security “sterile zone” instead of through the main gate for visitors and did not answer questions raised by the guard, leading to the firing in which, the national died on the spot.

Rescuer killed
Fernando had come as a representative of the owner of the vessel, which was seized by the Coast Guard in June and whose four-member crew was sentenced to four months imprisonment. They were due for release in a few days.

The deputy high commission, in a press release has said that it has conveyed to the Tamil Nadu Government the concern of the Sri Lankan Government over the incident.

It said that with the permission of the State Government, the mission sent an official to Madurai and he held talks with officials and made arrangements for legal assistance for the family of the deceased.

The four Sri Lankan prisoners have gone on a hunger strike.