Former commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka,  Ambtika Satkunanathan says the government is attempting to restrict certain rights of prisoners through new prison rules under the Prisons Ordinance.

“Most concerning are a reduction of visits to remanded imprisoned persons from 6 days a week to once a week. They have also reduced time outside the cell from 4 hrs to 1 hour” she said in a tweet. 

Satkunanathan said increasing time inside cells to 23 hrs a day will devastate their health.

“Listing cooked and uncooked food as prohibited items means that families can no longer provide food. Prison food is mostly inedible and of appalling quality, which is why families provide food,” she noted.

“Rule that allows persons sentenced to more than 12 months to work outside prison appears progressive, but without strict protections can lead to exploitation of labour. Prison labour is inherently exploitative. For eg, at present an imprisoned person is paid only Rs 2.50 per day.” she added.

The amendments have been issued through an extraordinary gazette. http://documents.gov.lk/files/egz/2022/7/2288-15_E.pdf