Isolate prison’s hardcore from the rest - HRCSL

Disna Mudalige

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) reiterated the necessity to separate drug addicts and hardcore criminals in prisons to avoid repetition of unfortunate incidents as that of the recent Welikada prison riot.

The separation of hard core criminals and drug addicts would also address the overcrowding in remand prisons, HRCSL Commissioner Dr Prathiba Mahanama Hewa told the Daily News yesterday.

He added about half of the remand prisoners are drug addicts. He proposed to establish special rehabilitation centres for drug addicts. He said modern technology should be adopted in prisons. The HRCSL Commissioner observed that if scanners had been installed in prisons, the sneaking in of mobile phones and drugs into the prison could have been monitored. He noted special security measures using latest technology should be introduced in the armoury.

Dr Mahanama Hewa also said the relationship between inmates and prison officers and guardians should be improved. He commended the swift appointment of the high powered committee by the government to probe into the Welikada incident, adding that the HRCSL would also sent an investigation and inquiry team.

He also stressed the amendments to the law to introduce prison reforms are much needed. He requested the Justice Ministry and other government stakeholders to formulate a mechanism to speed up the court cases on remand prisoners.