Welfare programmes for prisoner families

Social Services and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Lionel Premasiri stated that steps had already been taken by his Ministry with the intervention of National Social Development Council to launch a series of programmes for welfare and uplift the socio mentality of the families of prisoners who had been serving long sentences.

He made these observations at a ceremony held at Welikada Prisons premises, on December 6 commencing its first such programme.

Premasiri stated that as a lawyer with experience, he was aware that thousands of persons who had been charged for murder had been set free, but it would be an unpardonable crime if an innocent was punished for murder charges. As such persons were serving their sentences in this prison, it was his idea that his Ministry and other Ministries should work on a joint programme for the prisoners' welfare, education and health for re-integration them into the main social stream, he said.

Justice Minister Dilan Perera said that terrorists, no doubt should be taken into custody and dealt with accordingly but he could not condone taking people into custody just because they speak Tamil language.

Ministry of Social Services and Social Welfare Secretary V. Jegarasasinghe said that from a survey carried out in Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura and Monaragala areas it had been revealed that more than 45% of child abuse was on incest.

Many instances had been reported where children had been abused by their own fathers, and counselling and care for such families should be provided immediately. She said the public is of the idea that her Ministry was an organisation confined only for donating wheel chairs and crutches to the disabled but the services of her Ministry were of manifold, including activities similar to the one they launched.

Many programmes were launched aiming the welfare of prisoners' families whilst 13 sewing machines were donated among selected families, spectacles were donated to sight impaired, and prisoners above 60 were donated with Elders Identity Cards.

The survey report concerning the prisoners by the Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry was also launched on this day. Presents were awarded to the successful prisoners for their creative paintings and poetry held paralled to the Counselling Day.

Prof. Edvin Ariyadasa, Commissioner of Prisons, Sumithra Rahubadda, Additional Secretary Justice Ministry Sunil Samaraweera and Yamuna Chithranganie, Additional Secretaries to Ministry of Social Services and Social Welfare, Geethamanie Karunarathne, Director Elder Secretariat, K. Jayasinghe, Director, Social Services and many others participated.