Prisons to undergo radical reforms

*One of oldest departments in Sri Lanka

*Several key issues need amendment

*Reforms based on final report

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

The Prisons Department will be subjected to radical reforms with immediate effect as the Department does not meet the present day requirement, Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister DEW Gunasekara said yesterday.

The Minister told the media at the Ministry that no reforms have been carried out so far eventhough the Prisons Department has been established in 1844 making the Department one of the oldest departments in Sri Lanka. Reports have been presented by four separate commissions which had been appointed from time to time aiming at reforms to the Prisons Department.

But the suggestions of these commissions had never been implemented, he said.

Therefore, a 12-member expert panel was appointed to forward suggestions to the Ministry regarding the manner in which prison reforms should be carried out. The panel comprises experts in various fields such as legal, prison, educational, social, scientific and so on. The expert panel has gone through the four commission reports thoroughly and paid attention on the present situation of the prisons in the country before making their recommendations, Minister Gunasekara said.

The panel handed over an interim report to the Minister yesterday. The final report will be forwarded in the near future. Based on this final report, the reforms will be implemented soon within three or four years. “The experts panel has identified several key issues which should be attended to.

The main issue is to ease-congestion in prisons. It has been revealed that there are 400 prisoners where there should be just 100.

Welfare facilities have also to be upgraded immediately. Under this, availability of toilets and ventilation will be increased,” the Minister added.

Apart from these issues, prisons will be converted into rehabilitation centres. Convicts cannot be punished by prison officers.

Convicts are sent to prison as punishment and not for harrasment, the Minister said.