October 25, Colombo (LNW): The Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) has sharply criticised recent comments by the Prisons Commissioner advocating the execution of convicted drug traffickers, arguing that such measures will not address the chronic overcrowding in Sri Lanka’s prisons.
At a media briefing, attorney Senaka Perera, representing the CPRP, reminded that the government’s stance remains firm that the death penalty will not be implemented. He expressed concern over the remarks made by Commissioner Jagath Weerasinghe, who had suggested enforcing capital punishment for drug-related offences and pointed out that the current inmate population of over 36,000 far exceeds the designed capacity of approximately 10,500.
Perera questioned the Commissioner’s suitability to manage the prison system while contradicting official policy, asserting that an individual who endorses executions cannot be expected to uphold justice or facilitate rehabilitation within prisons.
He stressed that criminal behaviour stems from social and economic inequalities rather than inherent tendencies, adding that true reform requires tackling these root causes. “Eliminating the circumstances that lead to crime is the only way to build a society free of it,” he said, warning that leadership favouring punitive measures undermines the department’s rehabilitative mission.
Perera further noted that the principle that “prisoners are also human beings” will only hold meaning when actions that deprive inmates of justice and dignity are brought to an end.
