( Sri Lanka Brief/ 11 October 2025) Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara informed Parliament on October 10 that, as of September 23, 34,765 individuals were currently detained in prisons across Sri Lanka. This includes 10,509 convicted prisoners and 24,256 remand prisoners held on suspicion.
Responding to a question raised by NPP MP Dharmapriya Dissanayake during the oral Q&A session, the Minister clarified:
- Only those sentenced to death, life imprisonment, or fixed terms are held post-conviction.
- 2,122 prisoners remain incarcerated solely due to their inability to pay fines, with assurances that fair procedures will be followed in their cases.
- Under Article 34 of the Constitution, the President retains the power to grant general amnesty on occasions like Independence Day or Prisoners’ Day, typically benefiting those with minor offences or financial constraints.
Minister Nanayakkara emphasized the human dignity of prisoners, stating: “It cannot be stated in words alone that prisoners are also human beings. Prisoners face serious hardships in prisons, and legal action will be taken against officers who act inappropriately.”
This statement comes amid growing calls for judicial reform, prison decongestion, and improved oversight, especially in light of Sri Lanka’s high remand population and systemic delays in legal proceedings.