FINANCIAL CHRONICLE — The prison system in Sri Lanka is currently experiencing significant overcrowding, largely due to the government’s Ratama Ekata anti-drug initiative, as reported by Minister Nalinda Jayatissa. The inmate count has skyrocketed to 41,000, far surpassing the official capacity of 11,000 inmates.
Jayatissa informed the media that the situation has deteriorated sharply since September 2024, when the number of prisoners was approximately 28,000. “In facilities designed for 11,000 inmates, we recorded almost 28,000 by September 2024,” he stated. “The recent nationwide drug eradication efforts and subsequent law enforcement actions have resulted in this figure rising to 41,000 as of today.”
To alleviate the burden on the existing infrastructure, plans are underway to create a new detention center in Mahamodara, Galle. An Extraordinary Gazette notification, issued under the authority of Section 2 of the Prisons Ordinance (Chapter 54), will designate this facility as the “Mahamodara Prison,” which will have jurisdiction across the country. This order was signed by Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara on July 7 in Colombo.
While the new prison aims to address the physical space issue, the influx of inmates has intensified existing delays within the justice system, notably due to a backlog in forensic report processing. Jayatissa pointed out that the wait for Government Analyst reports is hindering bail hearings and overall court operations. The government is grappling with this issue, including difficulties in finding qualified candidates with the necessary chemistry degrees, though recruitment efforts for the department are progressing.
Additionally, the government is hastening the hiring of more prison officers to mitigate staff shortages that are affecting the correctional facilities. Legal uncertainties resulting from a 2022 law have also led to complications in case filings, primarily regarding the correct jurisdiction for various drug-related offenses. To address this, the government is working on legislative amendments that will clarify court responsibilities based on the amount of narcotics involved.
“Consequently, we are in the process of modifying that law so that cases involving over 10 grams of drugs are directed to the High Court, while those involving lesser amounts are sent to lower courts,” Jayatissa explained. (Colombo/July 08/2026)
