Drug offences send over 13,300 to jail

Irangika RANGE, Sandasen MARASINGHE and Disna MUDALIGE

The number of persons imprisoned in 2009 for drug related offences was 13,319. This is 35.2 percent of the total number of prisoners, Parliament was told yesterday.

According to a tabled answer by Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister D E W Gunasekera, separate prisons have been built for those imprisoned for drug related offences. Separate prisons have been built in Pallekele, Thaldena and Weerawila for those imprisoned for drug related offences.

The Minister was responding to an oral question raised by UPFA MP Arundika Fernando.