At a press conference held today (09) in Colombo, Prison Spokesperson Jagath Weerasinghe stated that while Sri Lankan prisons have a capacity for 12,000 inmates, they currently hold 33,000.

During the press conference, the spokesperson also mentioned that the department is currently facing a shortage of prison officers.

Jagath Weerasinghe, Commissioner of Prisons (Rehabilitation) and Prison Spokesperson, further commented:

“We need to minimize incarceration; otherwise, this country will fall into a bad state. The maximum number of inmates that can be held in the 36 departments of the Prisons Department is 12,000. However, we are currently holding 33,000 inmates. Many of Sri Lanka’s prisons are located in densely populated areas. My officers are doing a tremendous job. Overall, prison officers are working well. Even with a shortage of officers, the prisons are currently in a good state overall.”