Prisoners with minor offenses are housed!
Mr. Senaka Pallethenna, Prison Commissioner said that the government has planned to introduce a new method of keeping a selected group of suspects arrested by the police and brought to court for minor offenses and drug offences, detained and monitored at home instead of being jailed. He stated that under the new program, the suspect is implanted with a chip and monitored.
The commissioner revealed about this new program while speaking to journalists in Kandy on October 16th that he has planned to introduce this new system considering the overcrowding in the prisons.
He said that the prison department, the Ministry of Justice and the police are expected to jointly implement this new measure.
The commissioner also said that “instead of increasing the number of prisons, the government is focusing on relocating the existing prisons to other places and turning them into places with international facilities.”
Commenting on the Athi Bogambara prison which was temporarily taken under the prison department, the commissioner said that it will be handed over very soon.
