Unable to pay fines:

Over 2,650 behind bars - Minister

Irangika RANGE, Sandasen MARASINGHE and Disna MUDALIGE

A total of 2,651 prisoners are languishing in prisons for being unable to pay fines up to September 30, 2010, an answer tabled by Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister D E W Gunasekara stated.

This was tabled in response to a question raised by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera in Parliament yesterday.

He further said that there are instances where some organizations pay the fine and release the prisoners as an act of charity.

The President also offers special state pardons periodically and prisoners who have been jailed for the non payment of fines are released by them.