September 02, Colombo (LNW): In a move aimed at addressing longstanding staffing shortages, the Sri Lankan government has sanctioned the recruitment of over 550 new officers to bolster the operations of the Department of Prisons.
According to Prisons Commissioner and official spokesperson Jagath Weerasinghe, formal notification of the recruitment drive was published in the Government Gazette on August 29, 2025, signalling the beginning of a large-scale intake across multiple roles within the prison system.
The recruitment campaign is set to fill critical vacancies with a total of 554 new appointments. These include 409 positions for male prison wardens and 70 for female wardens, both of whom will be tasked with day-to-day custodial and supervisory duties within correctional institutions.
In addition to wardens, the Department is seeking to strengthen its middle management with the hiring of 55 prison officers at the Level II jailer rank, along with 7 positions for their female counterparts. These officers are expected to take on more complex operational responsibilities and contribute to maintaining discipline, order, and safety within the facilities.
Further, in recognition of the evolving role of rehabilitation in the country’s correctional strategy, the recruitment drive also includes openings for 10 male and 3 female rehabilitation officers at the Level II grade. These professionals will be entrusted with supporting the reintegration of inmates into society, focusing on psychological support, vocational training, and behaviour modification programmes.
The staffing shortages in Sri Lanka’s prisons have been a growing concern in recent years, with overcrowding and limited personnel placing strain on daily operations and rehabilitation efforts.
