Steps to ease prison congestion

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

Measures are being taken to ease the high congestion in prisons, Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera said.

Under this programme, several prisons are scheduled to be relocated since most of the prisons are in high urban areas.

The minister addressing the media yesterday at the Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Ministry said the Bogambara prison will be shifted to Pallekele.

“The Pallekele prison complex will accommodate 3,000 inmates. Elderly female inmates will be kept in the Pallekele prison at the initial stage. In addition, facilities at Matara and Galle prisons will be upgraded, “the minister said.

“Besides, the Jaffna prison is being renovated at a cost of Rs 270 million while the Tangalle prison is being renovated at a cost Rs 350 million. Meanwhile, an open air prison will be constructed at Tangalle at a cost of Rs 372 million, “the minister said.

The minister added that more than 40 percent prisoners are those convicted for drug related offences.