Although there are no plans at present to build new prisons, the Prisons Department stated that steps are being taken to ease severe congestion by renovating existing facilities and making small adjustments to improve conditions.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the Prisons Commissioner and Department Spokesperson, A.C. Gajanayake said that it is required to comply with court orders when inmates are remanded or sentenced, regardless of capacity constraints. "There are no plans as of now to build new prisons. However, renovation work is underway at several prisons, while a few new wards are also being constructed to better manage the situation."

He further said the capacity of the prison system stands at around 11,000 inmates, even as the total prison population fluctuates at around 40,000. "The number of inmates sometimes drops to about 38,000, but still remains far above capacity. We are managing the situation to the fullest extent possible within these limitations."

The comments come amid former Prisons Department Spokesperson Jagath Chandana Weerasinghe's recent statement that around 40,000 prisoners are currently being held in facilities designed to accommodate only about 10,500 inmates. Speaking at a seminar, he said that congestion had reached critical levels.

On an earlier occasion, the Department stated that it was planning to implement a prison reform programme under a five year plan. Under this programme, it was stated that priority would be given to reducing prison congestion through short-term, medium-term and long-term solutions.