The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, answers to the questions raised by Hon. Hasara Liyanage are as follows:

¶ 02 - From January 2025 to the end of August 2025: - Women serving sentences in prison: 425. - Women on remand: 4,686.

¶ 03 - Number of women incarcerated with infants/children in 2025: 38 (15 boys and 23 girls).

¶ 04 Children’s safety: - Separate child-care centres are established within women’s prison sections to house children under five years with their mothers, segregated from other inmates.

¶ 05 Children’s nutrition: - In addition to the standard daily prison diet for inmates, infants/children are provided milk powder and a daily light meal through the prison diet unit. - Additionally, on certain occasions, philanthropists provide special meals, snacks, milk foods and fruits. - Through Prison Welfare Association subcommittees, special items for young children and mothers are provided from time to time.

¶ 06 Children’s education: - With support from a private institution for about ten years, under the guidance of an advisor to Early Childhood Development Centres, required early childhood education activities are conducted for these children. - From time to time, with voluntary support from members of governmental and non-governmental organizations engaged in social services, various programmes and activities are organized and implemented through the prison rehabilitation division, along with provision of educational and play materials. - Through Prison Welfare Association subcommittees, necessary activity-based programmes and educational materials are provided, child-care centre operations are developed, and special snacks are supplied. - In addition, with the intervention of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, provisions have been allocated in 2025 for development activities of the child-care centre of the women’s section of Welikada Prison, and such development has commenced. - With Government intervention, trained Early Childhood Development Centre advisors are to be provided for prisons where child-care centres are established, to conduct pre-school education and development activities. - Necessary amendments to Prison Regulations are to be made to ensure provision of nutritious food for young children by the Government. - Existing child-care centres will be renovated with Government intervention.

¶ 07 Further, upon a child reaching five years while the mother continues to be incarcerated, after handing the child to guardians, with Government intervention follow-up will be undertaken regarding the child’s education and health.