Juvenile offenders to get new lease of life through Amaridu

Shirley Wijesinghe

NEGOMBO:In keeping with "Mahinda Chinthana" President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed the Presidential Public Relation Unit to initiate a programme for upgrading the level of Correctional Centres especially those housing juvenile offenders.

A team of officials from the Police Department led by Senior DIG Sirisena Herath conducted a counselling programme "Amaridu"in keeping with this concept.

President's Public Relation Affairs Director Wajira Irugalbandara accompanied the Senior DIG Sirisena Herath and representatives of WHO on the observation visit to the Correctional Centre for Youthful Offenders, at Dalupotha, Negombo yesterday.

Director Wajira Irugalbandara said the infrastructure development alone would be of little use if the correctional programme for youthful offenders fail to achieve its aim.

The offenders cannot be rehabilitated by punishment alone but counselling on different aspects too is vital to make them worthy citizens Irugalbandara said.

He explained in detail about the common offenses committed by the youth such as drug trafficking and addiction, burglaries and rape instigated by third parties ."The function of our Unit is to gather all information about these offenders and their patrons so that the President would receive a clear picture of the problem".

Irugalbandara was critical of certain law enforcement officers who turn a blind eye to serious crime in return for monetary benefits and other privileges."These officers are aware of the source of crime but chose to remain silent for their own benefit", he said.

He appealed to the youth offenders to transform themselves through this programme so that they could make a new beginning in life. Senior DIG Sirisena Herath said more than 46 per cent of offenders come back after being released. He said Police Department which earlier closed their books on a suspect after producing him before court now took an interest in him even after he is jailed.

"We observe a rapid change in the youth offenders within a very short time after exposing them to lectures by expert Counsellors." We could add a value for their lives by this programme" Sirisena said.

He said only 150 out of 290 youthful offenders were selected for the training programme from the Dalupotha centre. It was a real experience for them and also for the officials involved .

The event concluded with a song and drama performance staged by the detainees.