Special discussion by the Human Rights Commission to control prison clashes

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has taken steps to hold a special discussion to control the frequent conflict situations occurring in prisons across the island. Accordingly, high-ranking officials from responsible sectors, including prison chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, have been summoned to meet the Commission on August 18.

Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission, Attorney Nimal G. Punchihewa, has officially revealed this special decision.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Justice and National Integration, as well as the Ministry of Public Security, are also expected to be involved in this special meeting. The focus will be on short-term, medium-term, and long-term measures aimed at preventing further conflicts within the prison system, and the main objective of this discussion is for all relevant institutions to reach a common agreement.

Attorney Nimal G. Punchihewa points out that there is also a need to implement certain legal reforms to provide successful solutions to the existing critical situations in prisons. He specifically mentioned that the severe overcrowding in prisons has been a major cause of many problems, and the detention of drug addicts and drug traffickers together in the same facility further exacerbates these conflicts.

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka is currently conducting extensive investigations into the conflict incidents that have occurred in prisons across the island, including Negombo Prison. According to data, there are currently over 41,000 detainees and prisoners held in Sri Lanka's 33 prisons. However, since the maximum approved capacity for the entire prison system is only about 11,000, a severe and critical overcrowding situation has been created within the prisons.