The heart-wrenching reports of 38 mothers who are incarcerated for various crimes and behind bars with their infants is a reality Sri Lanka needs to address diligently. The number of such mothers and children behind bars was revealed yesterday by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who told the Parliament that of the 38 infants behind bars, 15 were boys and 23 were girls. 

She revealed that from 1 January to 31 August 2025, a total of 425 women had been imprisoned in Sri Lanka. The Premier noted that childcare centres have been established within the women’s prison wings to look after children under the age of five who accompany their mothers in custody. She also noted that these childcare centres are located separately from the general prison population and allow mothers to spend time with their children in a dedicated and protected space.

It is important that the plight of these children have been looked into by the Prime Minister. Last year, The Editorial staff of The Daily Morning and The Sunday Morning visited the special centre within the Welikada Prison complex where the mothers and children are held during a corporate social responsibility programme. The centre, run by a dedicated team of women jailors, was a haven for the children inside the jam-packed confines of the overpopulated Welikada complex. 

However, despite their best efforts, the infrastructure, furniture and amenities available for the children and their convict mothers, were found to be wanting. Bedding, beds, mosquito nets, and basic services needed to ensure an infant’s or child’s wellbeing, was in short supply. Fans, sanitation facilities and the center largely relies on donations and support from private individuals and institutions to keep the mothers and children well-supplied and supported. We were informed that a steady supply of bed linen, women’s clothes, undergarments, children’s clothes, and diapers were most welcomed. One official told us that while infant nutrition is well provided by the state, the nutrition for feeding mothers behind bars needs to be reviewed.

While no one wants to see infants or children raised behind bars, in some circumstances, the child is best placed with the biological mother during early childhood. It is a gut-wrenching thought about how mothers – convict or otherwise let go of their children from the facility when the child turns five years old. Some jailers who spoke to us in terms of anonymity said that they wouldn’t wish that heartache and trauma on anyone. It would be prudent and merciful for the Justice Ministry, and the institutions involved could review the current system and processes which manage mother-child contact and exposure post the fifth birthday of the child. It is important to focus on the child in this context, as the child has committed no crime, and should be punished for the actions of their parents.

Women in Sri Lankan prisons face a myriad of issues including poor sanitation, inadequate access to hygiene products, overcrowded conditions, and insufficient vocational training and employment opportunities compared to men. The rehabilitation programmes often fail, leading to re-offending, and the women themselves experience high rates of prior abuse, mental health challenges, and poverty. Specific challenges include the lack of separate facilities for female inmates, leading to potential gender-based violence, and issues with access to healthcare, including prenatal care. 

Also, while prison-based industries and work programmes have become a staple in correctional and rehabilitation facilities in the country, providing male inmates with opportunities to build skills and earn some income, female inmates often face hardship in having access to such opportunities. Despite a substantial female prison population, the employment programmes and vocational training accessible to them are far fewer, revealing a broader trend of gender inequality within the criminal justice system and rehabilitation efforts. 

While the situation has improved to a degree, a lot needs to be done. Over the last few years, The Daily Morning and The Sunday Morning have reported on the prison congestion issue and other complications with the corrections system of Sri Lanka. The issues are well known and reported. It is now time for the State to find the political will to act on the findings.