November 06, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Department of Prisons has unveiled plans to set up provisional detention sites nationwide in response to an escalating overcrowding emergency within the country’s correctional system.
Official statistics reveal that prisons built to hold just over 10,000 individuals are currently accommodating close to 37,000, representing an excess of more than two and a half times their intended capacity.
Authorities attribute the sharp rise in inmate numbers largely to the ongoing wave of drug-related arrests across the island.
Most detainees are reported to be between 30 and 40 years of age, reflecting growing concerns over the imprisonment of working-age citizens.
Prison officials stated that the new temporary centres are an interim solution intended to alleviate the strain on existing facilities, while more sustainable policy and infrastructure reforms are under consideration.
