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

¶ 01 The answer is as follows:

¶ 02 (a)(i) 2,246 inmates as at 04.01.2026. (ii) 699. (iii) The new Dumbara Prison is planned replacing the former Bogambara Prison and Kandy Remand Prison, to accommodate 400 female and 2,500 male inmates, with 102 official quarters. The revised total project cost is Rs. 4,360 million. An Engineering Consultant (EC) handles design and supervision. To date, under 11 contracts with the State Engineering Corporation totaling Rs. 1.9 billion, major works such as the main security wall, office buildings, kitchen and stores, barracks, and part of inmate accommodation blocks are completed, enabling accommodation of 2,139 inmates as at 04 January 2026.

¶ 03 As at end-November 2025, physical progress: Contract No. 128 at 90%, Contract No. 138 at 0.9%; total financial progress in 2025 was Rs. 197.28 million.

¶ 04 Overcrowding is not confined to Pallekele; system-wide it exceeds 300%. Construction will proceed subject to annual allocations. A programme to refer drug dependents to rehabilitation camps is being arranged. In addition, several government buildings are being designated to hold inmates temporarily, which is expected to reduce overcrowding at Dumbara.

¶ 05 (b) Does not arise.