Prisons at risk of overcrowding as number of inmates rise

Prisons at risk of overcrowding as number of inmates rise

August 1, 2023   05:25 pm

The Department of Prisons has announced that the prison population has significantly increased in every prison of the island.

The department mentions that there is a rapid increase in the number of individuals imprisoned for various charges since the beginning of this year.

Although the total capacity of the entire prison system in the country is for 13,241 inmates, the prisons located across the island holds around 29,000 individuals, according to the Prisons Department.

Among them, nearly 19,000 are detainees, while the remaining 10,000 are prisoners, who have been convicted of various charges, it added.

Accordingly, there is an increasing trend of prisons overcrowding as the number of incarcerated inmates continue to go up day by day at every prison institution across the island, according to the Prisons Department.

Disclaimer: All the comments will be moderated by the AD editorial. Abstain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or slanderous. Please avoid outside hyperlinks inside the comment and avoid typing all capitalized comments. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by flagging them(mouse over a comment and click the flag icon on the right side). Do use these forums to voice your opinions and create healthy discourse.

Most Viewed Video Stories

🔴LIVE | Ada Derana Midday Prime News Bulletin - 2025.09.23

🔴LIVE | Ada Derana Midday Prime News Bulletin - 2025.09.23

President Dissanayake to undertake an official visit to Japan (English)

Two bodies recovered from Tangalle house under renovation (English)

Court rejects Shasheendra’s bail appeal, further remanded (English)

Gazette issued declaring services related electricity supply as essential public services (English)

🔴LIVE | Ada Derana Prime Time News Bulletin

🔴LIVE | Ada Derana Midday Prime News Bulletin

Buddhist clergy and scholars meet PM for discussion on education policy (English)