Attention has been focused on the possible amendment to the Bail Act for civil offenders and placing them under house arrest, State Minister of Justice and Prison Affairs Anuradha Jayaratne stated.
State Minister Jayaratne said the matter is being addressed due to the lack of room in the prisons, which he claimed is the most significant issue the Prison Department is currently facing.
There are about 29,000 prisoners despite the 13,000 capacity of the current facilities. As of Thursday (10), the total number of inmates in prisons is 28,468.
It was also revealed that the number of drug-related offenders has increased rapidly. Accordingly, 50.3% of the total inmates are people who were imprisoned for drug-related offences. In some prisons, about 65% are detained due to drug-related offences.
The potential amendment to the Bail Act for civil offenders and placing them under house arrest is being considered as an effort to alleviate this prison congestion, he said.
State Minister Jayaratne further stated that the report of the committee appointed to look into the matter has now been received.
It is therefore intended that the pertinent draft laws will be delivered to the Parliament as soon as feasible, he added.
State Minister of Justice and Prison Affairs expressed these views during a press conference held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) on Thursday (10). (NewsWire)