By The Pulseline News Desk
The government has moved to fast-track long-delayed legislation that would allow courts to place eligible suspects and convicted persons under home detention instead of remanding or imprisoning them, as Sri Lanka grapples with severe prison overcrowding.
The Cabinet of Ministers this week approved a proposal to expedite the drafting of the Home Detention Bill by incorporating additional provisions before it is presented to Parliament.
According to Cabinet decisions issued following Monday’s (3) meeting, policy approval had previously been granted to introduce legal provisions enabling home detention as an alternative to imprisonment in suitable cases. A draft bill was subsequently prepared by the Legal Draftsman.
The Cabinet paper notes that the draft legislation was reviewed after Cabinet approval granted on June 23, 2025, and that further provisions have since been identified for inclusion. As a result, the Cabinet approved a proposal by Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara to instruct the Legal Draftsman to complete the bill on an expedited basis.
The move comes amid growing concern over chronic overcrowding in Sri Lanka’s prisons, which has long been identified as one of the country’s most pressing criminal justice challenges. Successive governments have explored alternatives to custodial sentences for low-risk offenders, arguing that imprisonment should be reserved for serious crimes while community-based sanctions are expanded.
The issue has gained renewed urgency following a series of violent incidents inside prisons, including recent unrest at Mahara Prison, which highlighted the pressures created by overcrowded facilities and strained prison resources. Justice sector reform advocates have repeatedly called for greater use of non-custodial measures, including electronic monitoring and supervised home detention, particularly for minor offenders and remand prisoners who do not pose a threat to public safety.
If enacted, the legislation would provide courts with an additional sentencing and remand option, although the categories of offenders eligible for home detention and the conditions governing the scheme are expected to be set out in the final bill to be presented to Parliament.
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