New Prison in Welisara to Ease Overcrowding - Justice Ministry

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Ministry of Justice says steps are being taken to establish a new prison in Welisara to address the growing problem of prison congestion.

According to the Ministry, the new prison has already been gazetted, and arrangements are underway to begin construction.

In addition, new buildings are being constructed at existing prisons, with plans to transfer inmates to these facilities as soon as possible.

The Ministry also stated that several buildings belonging to government institutions are being identified and converted into temporary prisons to ease the immediate pressure on the system.

At present, more than 39,000 inmates are being held in prisons across the country, while the official capacity of the prison system is only 11,000, according to the Prisons Department.