The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, the answer is as follows.

¶ 02 (a)(i) Institutions: 318. Number of officers: 5,218. By prison/institution: 1. Abhaya Meth Sevana – Ambepussa Prison: 55 2. Trincomalee Prison: 73 3. Jaffna Prison: 132 4. Kalutara Prison: 186 5. Negombo Prison and Chilaw Remand: 206 6. Kegalle Prison and Kurunegala Remand: 167 7. New Magazine Prison: 154 8. Vavuniya Prison and Mannar Remand: 74 9. Welikada Prison: 398 10. Training Institute for Research and Development: 28 11. Anuradhapura Prison: 206 12. Tissamaharama Youth Offenders Training Centre – Dalupotha: 69 13. Wataraka Open Prison Camp: 74 14. Boossa Prison: 122 15. Colombo Remand Prison: 233 16. Kuruvita Prison, Avissawella Remand, and Balangoda Remand: 239 17. Thaldena Prison, Hangilipola Open Camp, Kegalle Remand, Kuliyapitiya Remand, Puttalam Remand: 230 18. Matara Prison: 161 19. Monaragala Prison and Ampara Remand: 121 20. Batticaloa Prison: 127 21. Badulla Prison and Nuwara Eliya Remand: 153 22. Bogambara Prison, Matale Remand, Hatton Remand, Gampola Remand: 383 23. Weerawila Prison: 67 24. Prison Headquarters: 261 25. Polonnaruwa Prison: 93 26. Mahara Prison: 283 27. Pallekele Prison: 116 28. Galle Prison: 222 29. Thaldena Prison: 68 30. Angunakolapelessa Prison, Kalundurgasara Remand, Hambantota Remand, Embilipitiya Remand: 285 31. Emergency Response/Reaction Unit: 232 Total: 5,218

¶ 03 (a)(ii) Key deficiencies: - Overcrowding: over 29,000 inmates are held against capacity of roughly half that number, causing severe congestion, especially in Colombo and nearby institutions. Existing wards and buildings have insufficient space. - Structural issues: some buildings in the Colombo Prison Complex and certain at Kalutara are in dilapidated condition; removal from use (as per National Building Research Organization recommendations) further reduces space. - Visitor facilities: visiting rooms and waiting areas for visitors need expansion and upgrading; security equipment for screening parcels and items is inadequate; vehicles for prisoner transport are insufficient and some are obsolete. - Aged facilities: many prisons are old; sanitation is inadequate for current populations. - Accessibility and welfare: need to build access for inmates with disabilities; establish care facilities for infants of incarcerated mothers; expand telephone access. - Staff housing/offices: staff concentration is high in Colombo (holding about 30% of inmates), but official and single quarters are inadequate; further office facility upgrades are required.

¶ 04 (a)(iii) Steps taken/planned: - Annual upgrades within budgetary allocations under building rehabilitation and minor works; 2025 proposals submitted for priority infrastructure improvements. - Sanitation improvements: water pipelines and sewerage repairs; preparatory work for wastewater treatment plants at Kuruvita, Polonnaruwa, Negombo, and Wariyapola-associated facilities. - New residential blocks: project proposals submitted for 2025 funding; ongoing barracks repairs at Vavuniya; approval obtained to construct new barracks at Badulla in 2025. - Reducing congestion: proposal to complete boundary wall and construct two double-storey cell blocks at Wataraka Open Prison Camp; 2025 budget submission made. - Policy/committee: a Ministry-appointed committee is preparing proposals to reduce overcrowding and to rehabilitate drug users. - Relocation: many Welikada buildings (British era) are structurally weak; some are of heritage value and costly to repair. Plans with UDA have been prepared to relocate/establish the Colombo Prison Complex at Millewa, Horana; project should be implemented. - Staff housing: many controller/official quarters at Colombo complex require full rehabilitation; funding has not been allocated for years due to planned relocation; one single-storey official residence was repaired in 2024. - Expansion at Wariyapola (Chariyapola) Prison identified as a solution to local congestion; approvals obtained, but budgets were not allocated in recent years; included again for 2025. - Angunakolapelessa Prison: officers’ quarters completed in 2024; water tank and remaining inmate buildings are in progress, with completion targeted for 2027. - Solar PV systems: installations progressed at Anuradhapura and Angunakolapelessa prisons. - Welikada Women’s Section: sewer connection project to Colombo Municipal Council main line commenced. - Mahara Prison: reconstruction of the warehouse and administration building destroyed in the riot commenced in 2024; expected completion in 2026.

¶ 05 (b)(i) Number of rehabilitation centres: 10. Breakdown of current allocations (centre – indicative current programme allocation): - Ambepussa – 92 - Thaldena – 149 - Weerawila – 147 - Pallansena – 00 - Pallekele – 455 - Anuradhapura – 18 - Kandewatta – 10 - Dumbara – 04 - Mahara – 32 - Wataraka – 132

¶ 06 (b)(ii) Yes.

¶ 07 (b)(iii) Methods: Drug demand-reduction and therapeutic programmes are operated within the prison system as many inmates are drug users or associated with trafficking.

¶ 08 1. Amadivi Ridma Project: - Allocation by institutions: • Ambepussa Prison – inmates under 22 years • Thaldena Prison – inmates aged 22–30 • Weerawila Prison • Pallansena Prison • Pallekele Open Camp – all others not in above categories • Anuradhapura Prison • Kandewatta Work Camp • Dumbara Prison – female inmates (across age categories) • Mahara Prison – inmates not suitable for camps - Programmes are run to a special daily schedule by prison officers with support from government, NGOs and faith-based organisations. Aims include: • Creating a therapeutic environment in open camps to reintegrate inmates as good citizens • Separating drug-related offenders to reduce exposure of others • Reducing reimprisonment • Shifting from short-term to long-term treatment plans • Enabling recovery from addiction and restoring life value - Programme components include: individual/group/family counselling; medical care; balanced nutrition; spiritual development; mindfulness training; interfaith activities; therapeutic agriculture; education/information; formal/non-formal education; sports and auxiliary services; vocational guidance; life skills; relapse prevention; aftercare.

¶ 09 2. Designated Treatment Centres Project: - Implemented under the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) technical guidelines and the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance framework and the National Authority framework, in line with Gazette 1653/19 of 2010 designating treatment/rehabilitation centres. - Centres: Pallekele Open Prison Camp; Wataraka Prison; Thaldena Prison; Weerawila Prison; Anuradhapura Prison; Pallansena Prison; Kandewatta Work Camp; Ambepussa Prison. - All grades of prison officers serving at these institutions are trained by NDDCB in modern treatment and rehabilitation methods; NDDCB counsellors are attached to run programmes.

¶ 10 Additionally, all prisons conduct daily rehabilitation programmes with support from Prisoners’ Welfare Association subcommittees, government and non-governmental organisations and charities, covering: - Religious/interfaith programmes; psychological development/counselling - Educational/welfare: non-formal education, vocational training, libraries, Dhamma education, arts/music - Health; drug prevention and treatment; legal aid - Family meetings; special-day events - Sports: provision of equipment (from prisoner welfare/government consolidated funds), daily sports, inter-prison competitions, New Year festivals, Scouts and other activities - Incentives/awards for inmates’ special skills/competitions - Aftercare: vocational assistance for released inmates; follow-up - Conditional releases, home leave: under the Prevention of Crimes Ordinance, Sections 9–11, authority is exercised to conditionally release well-behaved and rehabilitated inmates; young offenders may be conditionally released - Work-and-earn schemes: selected inmates are deployed in government institutions with stipends - Special projects

¶ 11 (c) Not applicable.