The Prisons Department has prepared a set of proposals to ensure the effective use of prison inmates’ labour for industries including food crop cultivation in lands owned by the Department.
Proposals prepared by the Prisons Department on the effective utilization of prison labour to improve the industries run by the Prisons Department was handed over to Justice, Prisons and Constitutional Reforms Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, at the Ministry yesterday by Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya.
The proposals suggest measures to ensure effective use of prison inmates to propagate industries including agriculture where inmates will be used for cultivation of uncultivated lands owned by the Prisons Department.
The Minister during the meeting yesterday drew the attention of the prison officials on seeking the advice of the Labour Department with regard to the use of prisoners for industrial purposes.
The Justice Minister stated that in order to face the forthcoming food shortage, short-term crop cultivation should be considered.
Minister Rajapakshe instructed that an expeditious and efficient programme be directed towards cultivating crops and that the assistance of the Agriculture Department should be sought for this purpose and that the labour of the prisoners should be utilized effectively.
The Minister stated that in order to face the forthcoming food shortage, it is necessary to focus on cultivating short-term crops.
He instructed officials to take the necessary steps to use the lands owned by the Prisons Department for the cultivation of short-term crops and to make effective use of the labour of the prison inmates.
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