Plans to introduce a house arrest law - Statement from the Minister of Justice

Justice Minister Harsha Nanayakkara has stated that the government expects to introduce a 'house arrest' law as a remedy for the severe overcrowding in prisons. The Minister mentioned that this proposed bill is currently at a conceptual level, and once implemented, it will enable suspects to be detained in their homes or under supervision instead of being imprisoned.

He pointed out that prison congestion has further increased due to ongoing law enforcement operations and a rise in arrests of suspects.

He stated that a special committee has been appointed under the chairmanship of the President and himself to resolve this issue, and it is expected to recommend necessary practical measures.

The Minister also mentioned that other measures, such as expediting the acquisition of government analyst reports, expanding prison infrastructure, and introducing necessary legislative amendments, have also been considered. However, he further pointed out that merely reducing the number of prisoners cannot provide a permanent solution to the fundamental problem. The Minister emphasized that the judicial system must maintain a fair balance between appropriately punishing criminal offenses and releasing individuals who do not need to be held in custody.

Commenting on the responsibilities and duties of Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala, the Minister stated that the numerical increase in the prison population indicates a societal failure we are facing. He further stated that merely constructing more prison buildings is not a long-term solution, and emphasized the essential need to curb the deep-rooted criminal culture that draws the younger generation towards crime.