Thursday, 21 November 2013 00:00
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Sri Lanka’s Government has appointed a special committee to look into and present a report on the treatment of female prisoners. For what is perhaps the first attempt to address a critical issue on female prisoners and their fate, the report will undoubtedly be iconic but what is most important is that it is in fact implemented.
Prisons and Prison Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera has appointed a five-member committee headed by Parliamentarian Malini Fonseka to attend to the welfare of female inmates. Other members of the committee are Parliamentarian Dr. Sudharsani Fernandopulle, Attorney-at-Law Chathurika Wijesinghe, Dr. Nethranjali Mapitigma and Dr. Neli Andrahennadige. Gajadeera said the committee will take appropriate action including the rehabilitation and welfare of about 1,200 female inmates once the report in submitted in about three months’ time.
It would seem that there are in fact glaring things that the Government can address even before the report is submitted. Overcrowding and lack of privacy being two of the most obvious elements that leap to the mind, and no doubt the Minister would already be aware of. In fact activists believe that Sri Lanka’s prisons are the most overcrowded in South Asia, second only to that of Bangladesh. Even simple but essential points like access to toilets are denied these prisoners. Most of the inmates including those on death row do not have basic material to even sleep; a pillow and a mat are precious goods behind bars.
Even the monthly visits allowed for family and friend is traumatic and some would argue inhumane. The overcrowding was as much as 220% in 2011 and even though since then some female prisoners were transferred from Welikada to other prisons, there is no credible information that their situation has improved.
What few of the inmates know is that the Sri Lankan prison system is actually defined as ‘correctional,’ indicating that, officially, reintegration into society is a priority. But there is great doubt that this happens at all.
Individuals are sent to prison for a specific purpose – to correct themselves. It is, therefore, important to assess whether the prevailing prison conditions are conducive to such a task, or whether they are designed to project the idea that prisoners are a condemned lot, not deserving of respect or attention.
In fact, there is a disregard for prisoners’ human rights that extends beyond the walls of the jails themselves. Policymaking has consistently overlooked prisons and prisoners in Sri Lanka. In the most recent developments one large prison was built to clear the way for older prison buildings in touristy areas such as Kandy to be cleared out and make way for shiny new buildings to boost the travel industry.
But the welfare and rehabilitation of prisoners seem to be largely neglected. Even though a few non-governmental organisations and charities do incredibly important work, even the private sector by and large does not consider prisoners image worthy for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects, leaving them to the tender mercies of Government coffers.
Improvements made to the prison system would not only assist female prisoners but all inmates and by extension society – for they are still citizens and humans.
