February 05, Colombo (LNW): In a press conference held in Kandy, Justice and Prison Affairs State Minister Anuradha Jayaratne declared that individuals convicted of civil offences will be placed under house arrest as a measure to alleviate the overcrowding crisis in prisons. Minister Jayaratne revealed that the implementation of this program is slated for the current year.
He explained that the Legal Draftman’s Department is currently in the process of drafting the necessary laws, which will be presented to Parliament and enacted into law later this year. The forthcoming changes will require amendments to Acts such as the Bail Act, and individuals under house arrest will be monitored through GPS technology by prison officers and the nearest police station to ensure compliance with court-imposed conditions.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, the State Minister pointed out that the current prison capacity is only around 13,000 inmates, while the actual number currently incarcerated has surged to 33,000. Furthermore, Minister Jayaratne emphasized that a significant portion, approximately 65%, of the current prison population is comprised of individuals convicted on drug-related charges. The government’s focus is on rehabilitating these offenders by providing professional training, with programs already initiated in prisons nationwide.
Prisons Commissioner General Thushara Upuldeniya disclosed additional initiatives being pursued by the Justice Ministry. He mentioned plans to amend laws, allowing suspects in prison to undergo judicial proceedings through online methods rather than the traditional courtroom setting. This online approach is currently being piloted in the Southern Province with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The anticipated legal amendments aim to facilitate the nationwide implementation of this program.
Commissioner General Upuldeniya highlighted that the use of technology, such as Zoom, enables court proceedings for inmates, including extending trial dates, without the logistical challenges of physically transporting high-profile criminals to court.
