The Cabinet has approved a proposal to enter into a prisoner transfer agreement with Poland, allowing convicted citizens of either nation to serve their sentences in their home country to support rehabilitation and reintegration.
Sri Lanka's Cabinet has given its approval to pursue a formal prisoner transfer agreement with Poland, according to a proposal submitted by Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara. The arrangement would enable convicted citizens from either country to complete their prison sentences in their respective home nations rather than serving them abroad.
The proposed agreement operates within the framework of Sri Lanka's Transfer of Offenders Act No. 5 of 1995, which already permits bilateral arrangements for prisoner transfers. Under existing legislation, foreign nationals convicted in Sri Lankan courts can be transferred to serve sentences in their home countries, while Sri Lankan citizens convicted and imprisoned abroad retain the option to return to Sri Lanka to complete their terms.
Official statements indicate that the formal agreement with Poland aims to establish a structured mechanism for such transfers. Advocates for the arrangement contend that allowing prisoners to serve sentences in their home countries supports rehabilitation efforts and facilitates smoother social reintegration upon release. The Cabinet's approval marks the first formal step toward negotiating and finalizing the bilateral agreement with the Polish government.
