By The Pulseline News Desk
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has ordered the establishment of a joint security and welfare mechanism covering every prison in Sri Lanka, as the government seeks to restore stability following a series of violent incidents that have exposed deep-rooted problems within the country’s prison system.
The decision was taken at a special meeting chaired by the President at the Presidential Secretariat on Friday (7), where officials reviewed prison security, inmate welfare and existing emergency response mechanisms amid growing concerns over disturbances reported at several prisons in recent weeks.
The new mechanism, expected to be operational next week, will bring together the Department of Prisons, Sri Lanka Police, the Special Task Force (STF) and, when necessary, the armed forces to coordinate security operations and emergency responses across all 33 prisons in the country.
In a notable departure from a purely security-focused approach, officials participating in the mechanism will also engage directly with inmates to identify and resolve grievances, while overseeing measures aimed at improving prison welfare.
The move comes as the government attempts to contain mounting tensions following deadly unrest at Negombo Prison last month and subsequent disturbances reported at Mahara, Magazine in Borella, Kuruwita and Pallansena Prisons highlighting longstanding issues of overcrowding, delayed legal processes and deteriorating prison conditions.
Addressing root causes
Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said the government was simultaneously pursuing administrative and legal reforms to address many of the grievances raised by inmates.
One of the most pressing concerns has been delays in obtaining forensic reports from the Government Analyst’s Department, which have left many remand prisoners waiting for extended periods before their cases can proceed.
To address this bottleneck, the government will recruit around 70 additional personnel and introduce new equipment to the Government Analyst’s Department later this month. The expansion is expected to significantly increase its monthly capacity, enabling it to issue between 7,500 and 9,000 forensic reports.
The government is also preparing legislative amendments to ease bail procedures for certain drug-related offences.
Under the existing law, suspects charged with possessing more than 10 grams of narcotics must apply for bail through the Court of Appeal — a process officials say has contributed significantly to prolonged remand periods and prison overcrowding.
The proposed amendments would allow such bail applications to be heard by the High Court instead, reducing delays and easing pressure on the prison system.
Minister Nanayakkara said the government would also continue efforts to improve prison infrastructure and reduce overcrowding while addressing the concerns of inmates awaiting court proceedings.
Appeal for calm
While acknowledging the challenges faced by prisoners, the minister warned that recent acts of violence and damage to prison property would only worsen conditions for inmates themselves.
He urged prisoners not to be influenced by individuals attempting to incite unrest for their own interests, assuring them that the government was already implementing measures to resolve many of the issues raised.
“Do not destroy your own resources by engaging in unrest inside prisons. Support the steps being taken by the government,” the minister said.
The government’s latest intervention signals an attempt to balance tighter security with long-overdue institutional reforms, as it confronts one of the most serious prison crises in recent years. Whether the combination of administrative reforms, legal amendments and enhanced security coordination will be sufficient to restore lasting stability is likely to become a key test of the administration’s ability to reform Sri Lanka’s overcrowded and overstretched prison system.
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