Prisoners' Day to be commemorated

Suraj A Bandara

A disciplined environment should be created and well trained prison officers should be utilized to reintegrate over 19,000 prison inmates who were rehabilitated in prisons, as good citizens, Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera said.

He was addressing the media to brief a series of programmes organized by the Prison Department in view of the Prisoners' day which falls on September 12 at Matara Sanath Jayasuriya grounds. The prisoners will feature their exclusive talents through an exhibition, stage dramas, musical shows and dancing competitions.

The commemoration ceremony of the Prisoners' Day will be held from September 12 to 14 at this ground with the participation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. On par with the prisoners' day, to increase the productivity in prisons, a competition to select the best prison, best prison officer and best well mannered inmate will be held. They will be offered awards and certificates, the minister said. To increase the unity among the family members of the prisoners, the inmates will be given opportunities to meet their kith and kin. The main ceremony to embark on this program will be held on September 4 at the Pallekelle prison.