By The Pulseline News Desk
The Government is considering increasing the salaries and allowances of prison officers in the upcoming Budget, Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has said, as authorities move to strengthen emergency preparedness and coordination across the country’s prison system.
Nanayakkara made the remarks during a discussion on the challenges faced by prison officers at the Dumbara Prison, held following the establishment of a joint mechanism covering the Dumbara-Bogambara Prison and Pallekele Open Prison.
The proposed salary and allowance increases come amid wider efforts to address operational and welfare-related concerns within the prison service, where officers are required to manage inmates while responding to security incidents, overcrowding-related pressures and other emergencies.
Coordinated response across prisons
The Minister has said similar joint mechanisms would be established at prisons across the country to improve coordination between institutions and ensure a more effective response to emergency situations, particularly potential conflicts within prison facilities.
Under the new arrangement, the Department of Prisons will work more closely with other state institutions whose support could be required during emergencies.
These include the Police, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force, National Water Supply and Drainage Board and Fire Department.
The objective is to ensure that relevant agencies can respond collectively rather than operating separately when serious incidents occur.
The mechanism will also cover activities connected with inmate welfare, creating a broader framework for institutions to coordinate on issues affecting prisoners.
Focus on officers and inmates
During his visit, Nanayakkara has inspected the prison premises and held discussions with officers regarding the difficulties they encounter in carrying out their duties.
He has also spoken with inmates about the challenges they face, giving the Minister an opportunity to assess conditions inside the facilities directly.
The establishment of the joint mechanism reflects an attempt to move beyond a prison-only approach to managing emergencies and welfare issues.
Prison authorities frequently depend on external institutions when dealing with situations involving fire, medical or water-supply emergencies, security incidents and other circumstances that require specialised resources.
A structured mechanism bringing those institutions together could therefore allow decisions to be taken more quickly when an emergency occurs.
Budget decision pending
However, the proposed improvement in salaries and allowances for prison officers remains subject to the Government’s Budget process.
Nanayakkara’s announcement indicates that the concerns of prison personnel are being considered as part of the upcoming Budget, although details of the proposed increases, including the categories of officers who would benefit and the financial allocation involved, have not yet been announced.
The Government’s challenge will be to balance the need to improve conditions for prison personnel with broader fiscal constraints.
At the same time, the proposed reforms point to a wider effort to strengthen the institutional capacity of the prison service by improving both the working environment of officers and the welfare of inmates.
The Dumbara-Bogambara and Pallekele mechanism is expected to serve as part of this broader approach, with similar arrangements to be introduced at other prisons.
If effectively implemented, the system could establish a more coordinated framework for dealing with emergencies while ensuring that the welfare of both prison officers and inmates receives greater institutional attention.
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