While Sri Lanka marks International Women’s Day today (8) with discussions about empowerment, equality, and progress, the lives of hundreds of women behind prison walls often remain unseen and unheard.

Inside the country’s prisons, female inmates face a complex reality shaped by poverty, family breakdown, legal delays, and limited facilities. 

Many of them are mothers and primary caregivers whose imprisonment has consequences not only for themselves but also for their children and families.

Although women make up only a small proportion of Sri Lanka’s total prison population, the challenges they face reveal deeper social and institutional issues within the country’s criminal justice system.

Growing population

According to the Department of Prisons publication titled ‘Prison Statistics of Sri Lanka 2024,’ women account for a relatively small share of the country’s prison population.

Despite this, the number of female prisoners has gradually increased over the years. Prison data and global prison monitoring reports indicate that women make up around 4–5% of Sri Lanka’s total prison population, reflecting a system that is overwhelmingly male dominated.

The country’s prison population itself has grown significantly over time, with thousands of inmates currently housed in prisons across Sri Lanka. One of the most striking features of the prison system is the large number of remand prisoners – individuals who are held in custody while awaiting trial.

Statistics indicate that more than 70% of prisoners in Sri Lanka are remand detainees, meaning they have not yet been convicted by a court but remain in custody while their cases proceed through the legal system.

For women prisoners, this often means long periods of uncertainty and separation from their families.

Poverty 

Former President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and leading criminal lawyer U.R. De Silva said that many women who ended up in prison were not career criminals but individuals pushed into illegal activities by economic hardship.

According to him, the collapse of family support systems often plays a significant role. “In many cases the husband has either gone abroad for work, been taken into custody, or simply left the family. The responsibility of raising children and providing for the household falls entirely on the woman,” he told The Sunday Morning. 

Without stable income or social support, some women turn to informal or illegal activities to survive. “In the past, many women engaged in producing illicit liquor just to maintain their families. But today, some have moved into more serious illegal trades such as heroin trafficking because they believe it brings faster income,” De Silva said. He noted that these women were often acting out of desperation rather than criminal intent.

Awaiting trial 

Legal experts say one of the biggest challenges facing the prison system is the widespread use of remand detention.

De Silva explained that individuals accused of minor offences, particularly those related to small quantities of narcotics, often remained in remand prison for extended periods while awaiting trial. “In Sri Lanka, there is a belief that by keeping a person in remand prison the problem will be solved. But in reality, that approach does not work,” he said.

According to him, people accused of minor offences can spend months or even years in remand while the legal process moves slowly. “In some instances a person may be arrested with only a very small quantity of drugs, yet they remain in prison until laboratory reports are received and court proceedings move forward,” he said.

This prolonged detention can have unintended consequences. “Inside prisons there are individuals who have been involved in illegal activities for years. Some even continue their operations through mobile phones while inside prison,” he said.

These networks can influence first-time offenders. “When someone who is innocent or inexperienced enters that environment, they may learn how these illegal businesses operate. When they leave prison later, they already know the networks and the methods,” he explained.

According to De Silva, this creates a cycle where individuals who might otherwise have avoided crime become more deeply involved in it.

Inside prison

Concerns about prison conditions have also been raised by advocates working closely with inmates.

Attorney-at-Law and Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners Chairman Senaka Perera said that female prison wards often lacked adequate facilities. “Many prisons in Sri Lanka were built decades ago and were not designed to accommodate the number of inmates we have today,” he said.

As a result, women prisoners often face challenges related to infrastructure and living conditions. “Female prison wards require proper sanitation facilities, healthcare services, and space that takes into account the specific needs of women. Unfortunately, these aspects have not received sufficient attention,” Perera said.

He noted that overcrowding in some prisons made the situation even more difficult. “When there are more prisoners than the facilities were designed for, it becomes difficult to maintain proper hygiene and living conditions,” he said.

Mothers behind bars

One of the most difficult aspects of imprisonment for women is the impact on their children. Many female prisoners are mothers who were responsible for raising their children before being incarcerated. “When a woman goes to prison, the entire family structure can collapse because she is often the primary caregiver,” Perera said.

In some cases, women enter prison while pregnant or with infants who depend entirely on them. “Prison wards are not designed to support childcare. Mothers and infants require special care, nutrition, and medical support,” he explained.

The absence of proper childcare facilities can create significant challenges for both mothers and children. Children who remain outside prison may also face social and economic difficulties due to the absence of their mother.

Psychological toll

The emotional impact of imprisonment can be particularly severe for women. Many female inmates come from vulnerable backgrounds that include poverty, domestic violence, substance abuse, or social marginalisation.

“When women who already come from difficult circumstances are placed in prison environments without adequate counselling or support services, the psychological impact can be significant,” Perera said.

He added that rehabilitation programmes should focus not only on vocational training but also on mental health and social reintegration. “Women who leave prison often face stigma and limited employment opportunities. Without proper support they may struggle to rebuild their lives,” he said.

Improvement efforts

Against such a backdrop, when contacted by The Sunday Morning, prison authorities said that steps were being taken to address these challenges and improve conditions for women inmates.

Department of Prisons Media Spokesperson and Commissioner of Prisons – Operations, Intelligence, and Security A.C. Gajanayake said that the department was conducting programmes specifically aimed at supporting female prisoners.

“The Department of Prisons is conducting special programmes to facilitate women inmates and support their welfare while they are in custody,” he said.

Addressing concerns about overcrowding, Gajanayake noted that the issue was primarily concentrated in one facility. “Overcrowding is mainly an issue at the women’s ward of Welikada Prison. Authorities are taking steps to address this situation,” he said.

According to him, other prisons that house female inmates are currently operating at manageable levels. “There is no major space issue in other prisons. Facilities are at a manageable level and steps are being taken to further strengthen them,” he said.

He added that the Department of Prisons continued to expand rehabilitation programmes designed to help inmates reintegrate into society after release.

Beyond punishment

For legal experts and prison rights advocates, the challenges faced by women prisoners highlight the need for broader reforms. Improving prison infrastructure, reducing unnecessary remand detention, and expanding rehabilitation programmes are often cited as key priorities.

Women prisoners frequently come from some of the most vulnerable segments of society. Their imprisonment reflects deeper social problems including poverty, lack of economic opportunities, and limited access to social support.

As Sri Lanka commemorates International Women’s Day, the experiences of women behind prison walls offer an important reminder. Gender equality and empowerment must extend not only to boardrooms and political platforms but also to the country’s prisons.

For many women behind bars, meaningful change will require more than words; it will require reforms that recognise their dignity, address the circumstances that led them there, and create pathways for a second chance.