As a solution to severe prison overcrowding, a "house arrest bill"

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara stated in Parliament that the primary cause of the clash at Negombo Prison was the unrest stemming from severe overcrowding. The Minister added that several significant legal reforms are being introduced within the prison system. Under these reforms, a "House Arrest Bill" will be introduced, which will enable suspects currently remanded in prison to be placed under house arrest, subject to electronic monitoring.

A special committee has already been appointed to draft the House Arrest Bill, with the aim of limiting the large-scale remand of suspects. Furthermore, the Minister informed the House that steps are currently being taken to expand the capacity of prisons as a remedy for the severe overcrowding they face.

Another primary reason for the increase in prison overcrowding is the delay in granting bail to suspects detained on drug possession charges. Previously, a bail application for a person arrested with 2 grams of drugs could be filed in the High Court. However, following a legal amendment in 2022, bail applications in drug cases involving a net weight exceeding 10 grams must now be filed before the Court of Appeal. The Minister also highlighted that it takes nearly a year just to determine which court the bail application should be submitted to.

Delays in the Government Analyst's Department have also been identified as a major contributing factor to this situation. These delays have made it impossible to determine which court should hear bail appeals related to minor drug offenses. The severe staff shortage in the Government Analyst's Department is another reason, with 118 vacancies currently existing in that department.

Commenting on the clash at Negombo Prison, the Minister stated that the incident initially erupted when a group of inmates attacked another group, suspecting them of leaking information to outsiders about drug trafficking within the prison. During this altercation, inmates also assaulted two prison officers, prompting intervention from prison authorities. However, the Minister clarified that this information can only be officially confirmed through the investigation reports expected in the future. Steps are currently underway to appoint a committee comprising three retired judges to conduct a comprehensive investigation into this incident.