The Ministry of Justice and Prison Affairs is planning to implement a programme this year to place those found guilty of civil offences under house arrest, it was reported.

According to Daily News, State Minister Anuradha Jayaratne said that under the programme, those placed under house arrest will be monitored through GPS technology.

Speaking to reporters in Kandy, he further said they will be monitored by prison officers and the nearest Police station to ensure they remain under house arrest and adhere to the conditions imposed by the Courts.

The State Minister noted that the Legal Draftsman’s Department is drafting the necessary law, which will be presented to Parliament following completion.

Stating that the measures are being taken to reduce overcrowding in prisons, he revealed that the capacity of prisons is 13,000 inmates, but the number in prisons at present has increased to 33,000. (NewsWire)

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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)

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