Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:43 am ECONOMYNEXT — Sri Lanka is rolling out an infrastructure expansion, institutional recruitment drive, and rehabilitation strategy to combat severe prison overcrowding fueled by ongoing nationwide anti-drug operations, minister Nalinda Jayatissa sa…

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:43 am

ECONOMYNEXT — Sri Lanka is rolling out an infrastructure expansion, institutional recruitment drive, and rehabilitation strategy to combat severe prison overcrowding fueled by ongoing nationwide anti-drug operations, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. “While anti-drug raids are actively being carried out outside, which naturally leads to arrests and subsequent detentions, parallel efforts are underway to reduce prison congestion,” Jayatissa said. The state has completed the construction of staff quarters at the Pallekele prison and launched a new inmate building complex budgeted at 1.78 billion rupees, he said. A two-story building complex at Pallansena has been handed over for inmate use, and a warehouse complex at the Mahara prison was finalized at a cost of 22.5 million rupees, with another 61 million rupees advanced for further building works. To provide relief to metropolitan congestion, Jayatissa said temporary structures at the Welikada and Magazine prisons in Colombo are in their final stages of construction. Additionally, to mitigate national security threats, a specialized high-security facility equipped with high-security cells has been operationalized at the Welisara Navy Camp premises. The state has budgeted several mid-term projects extending through 2029. This includes an allocation of 446.9 million rupees for two buildings at the Wataraka prison, where a 1.77-billion-rupee Phase 2 remand wing will commence in 2027 alongside separate plans for a high-security zone. A structural redevelopment at Kalutara commenced to replace dilapidated structures, while 288 million rupees has been deployed for a new sewerage system at Kuruvita. Further inland, expansion works have launched at the Wariyapola prison on an estimated budget proposal of 4.62 billion rupees. The Matara prison is slated for complete relocation to Kotavila by 2029 with an investment of 5.18 billion, while preliminary revisions are underway to move the core Colombo prison to Milwala in Horana. (Colombo/Jul14/2026)