Sri Lankan government introduces prison reforms to ease the congestion in prisons

Sri Lanka's Prison Reforms and Rehabilitation Ministry says that prison reforms will be aimed at easing the congestion in prisons island wide.

Prison Reforms and Rehabilitation Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera told a press conference that producing 50% of the food supplies needed by the prisons system and referring minor offenders for community services would help ease the congestion in prisons.

According to the Minister, inmates have cultivated fruits and vegetables in most of the lands within jails, open prisons, and detention centers.

The initiative has helped make the time served by inmates in prisons more productive for themselves as well as for the prison system.

The project has helped bring down the maintenance expenses of the prisons and inmates enjoy a homely atmosphere that helps them immensely in their rehabilitation, Gajadeera said.