Govt. looks into releasing children staying in prisons with inmate mothers

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has given instructions to take measures to release 46 children who are currently staying in prisons with their inmate mothers.

In a release issued today (22), the Prime Minister’s Office said the media reports on 46 resident children of female inmates currently serving their sentences in various prisons across the country have been brought to the notice of the Premier.

Thereby, State Minister of Prisons Reforms and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation Sudarshani Fernandopulle has been instructed to look into the matter, the release read further.

According to reports, these children, below the age of 05, are kept with their mothers, who were convicted for drug-related and other offences, on court orders. Some of these female inmates had been placed under remand custody during their pregnancy and the rest of them were already with their newborns when they received the prison sentence.

When inquired about the steps to be taken regarding these children, State Minister Fernandopulle has said that relevant information is being collected and that the Prime Minister will be duly informed of the legal framework and the measures pertaining to the release of the children.