By Sarah Hannan
At least 8,000 inmates remanded for drug use are to be referred for rehabilitation after completing their quarantine period and completing PCR tests, The Morning learnt.
[caption id="attachment_107991" align="alignleft" width="300"]
State Minister of Prison Management and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation Lohan Ratwatte visits Welikada Prison Complex, 05 December 2020[/caption]
Newly appointed State Minister of Prison Management and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation Lohan Ratwatte, soon after assuming duties at his State Ministry, had called the Army Commander, the IGP of Sri Lanka Police, the Director General of Health Services, the Commissioner General of Prisons, and the ministry officials to discuss the ongoing matters and how the Covid-19 prison cluster could be brought under control.
“I have requested from the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Prisons to expedite the PCR tests on inmates in the next 10 days as there are over 50% of inmates who are yet to be tested for Covid-19. We are also looking at referring at least 8,000 inmates, who are serving a sentence due to their involvement in the narcotic trade, for rehabilitation,” Ratwatte told the media.
The State Minister is also looking to consult the Attorney General on the legal provisions to amend the sentences and refer these inmates to rehabilitation rather than imprisoning them.
On Saturday (5), Ratwatte had visited the Welikada Prison to observe the situation, during which he had requested the inmates who were protesting on the roof for days to come down and heard their concerns.
Following the discussions with the inmates, Department of Prisons officials, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Justice, are to look at four methods that would reduce congestion in prisons;
State Minister of Prison Management and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation Lohan Ratwatte visits Welikada Prison Complex, 05 December 2020[/caption]
Newly appointed State Minister of Prison Management and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation Lohan Ratwatte, soon after assuming duties at his State Ministry, had called the Army Commander, the IGP of Sri Lanka Police, the Director General of Health Services, the Commissioner General of Prisons, and the ministry officials to discuss the ongoing matters and how the Covid-19 prison cluster could be brought under control.
“I have requested from the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Prisons to expedite the PCR tests on inmates in the next 10 days as there are over 50% of inmates who are yet to be tested for Covid-19. We are also looking at referring at least 8,000 inmates, who are serving a sentence due to their involvement in the narcotic trade, for rehabilitation,” Ratwatte told the media.
The State Minister is also looking to consult the Attorney General on the legal provisions to amend the sentences and refer these inmates to rehabilitation rather than imprisoning them.
On Saturday (5), Ratwatte had visited the Welikada Prison to observe the situation, during which he had requested the inmates who were protesting on the roof for days to come down and heard their concerns.
Following the discussions with the inmates, Department of Prisons officials, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Justice, are to look at four methods that would reduce congestion in prisons;
- Pardoning detainees suffering from complete disabilities and chronic diseases and those over 75 years of age
- Releasing prisoners that committed minor offences on bail
- Looking into long-standing issues of prisoners in terms of providing them necessary healthcare and expediting PCR tests
- Seeking approval from the President to implement a four-year amnesty period and release qualifying inmates on reasonable grounds