CCTV surveillance systems will be installed in prisons to capture and document all incidents that involve, drug use, inmate violence, and other possible misconduct inside prisons, Justice, Human Rights and Legal Reforms Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.
The Minister who went on an inspection tour of the Welikada prisons on Tuesday said CCTV surveillance cameras will help identify wrongdoers, provide more extensive monitoring and strengthen the level of protection for guards, staff and inmates.
“The Minister lamented that the former government had spent a large amount of money to build court buildings while neglecting prisoner welfare and the facilities at prisons,” a media communiqué issued by the ministry stated.
The Minister said more buildings were an urgent need as the prisons were overcrowded.
He added that he has already allocated Rs.10 million to improve sanitary facilities.
The Minister went on to say that a majority of inmates were in prisons on drug related cases and last year the number of related court cases had grown by 150 per cent.
While adding that the hearing of drug related cases were getting delayed due to delays at the Government Analyst Department the Minister said in future, facilities at other laboratories too will be used to examine samples, if needed.
The Minister said the present government will have a more restorative approach to prisons – one that requires convicted men and women to earn back the public’s trust by completing transformative programmes which in turn can reduce crime and prevent victimization.
“We do not want prisoners to be cornered or shunned by society when they are released. Therefore, we will introduce rehabilitative programmes based on proven best practices for helping people who have broken the law to become productive citizens,” the Minister added.
Add new comment