Committee pushes stronger rehabilitation to reduce prison overcrowding

The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection has discussed strengthening drug rehabilitation programmes to help reduce overcrowding in Sri Lanka’s prisons, where 1,506 of 4,962 inmates convicted of drug-related offences are currently receiving rehabilitation.

The discussion was held recently at the Parliament premises under the chairmanship of Member of Parliament Dr. Najith Indika.

Officials from the Department of Prisons, Department of Community Based Corrections, Bureau of Rehabilitation and National Dangerous Drugs Control Board briefed the Committee on rehabilitation programmes currently being carried out through their institutions.

Prisons Department officials said rehabilitation is provided to inmates referred under court orders as well as those who voluntarily come forward for treatment.

However, they said it is currently not possible to provide rehabilitation opportunities to all inmates serving sentences for different offences.

Officials of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board said steps have been taken to expand programmes aimed at helping people overcome drug addiction.

They said plans have also been prepared to recruit the required personnel and strengthen rehabilitation programmes at Divisional Secretariat level across the country.

The Committee also discussed the social acceptance of people who have completed rehabilitation and the difficulties they face when obtaining certificates of good character.

Members also emphasized the need to amend relevant laws and regulations to make the rehabilitation process more effective.

Members of Parliament Ajith P. Perera, Mujibur Rahman, M.K.M. Aslam, Dharmapriya Wijesinghe and Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara participated in the meeting.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration, the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, and other government officials were also present.