The Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Justice and National Integration, I table the Answer.

¶ 02 (a) (i) 1. Closed Prisons - 04 2. Remand Prisons - 18 3. Open Prison Camps - 10 4. Open Work Camps - 02 5. Youth Offenders Rehabilitation Centres - 02 6. Youth Offenders Training School - 01

¶ 03 (ii) Submitted as Annex 01 (placed in the Library).

¶ 04 (iii) Submitted as Annex 02 (placed in the Library).

¶ 05 (iv) Steps to reduce congestion: - New Dumbara Prison and Agunakolapelessa Prison have been constructed with facilities; steps are underway to construct the new Welikada Prison at Horana-Millewa; steps are underway to construct the Matara Prison at Kotavilawatta. - Approval has been sought from the Department of National Planning to replace two old buildings at Kalutara Prison with two two-storied buildings. - Approval has been sought from the Department of National Planning to build a rampart and building at Watareka Prison—currently an open camp—to enable detention of remand/convicted prisoners securely. - Steps are being taken to commence construction at Chariyapola Prison. - Continuous notification of courts regarding remandees eligible under the Release of Remand Prisoners Act, No. 8 of 1991, and to facilitate release on bail where appropriate. - Implementing rehabilitation programmes such as “Ama Divi Rhythm” to prevent re-incarceration; plans to expand these island-wide. - In addition to general amnesties, establishing a mechanism through a review process to grant special amnesties; reactivating the Committee on Granting Amnesties. - Discussing with relevant divisions to repair old buildings and construct new ones in all prisons.

¶ 06 (b) Not applicable.