The Attorney General has informed the Inspector General of Police to refrain from directing remand prisoners to prisons unless for special purposes.
The decision was conveyed after the Prisons Commissioner General made a request to Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam to issue a recommendation in order to reduce the congestion at prisons amidst the coronavirus situation.
Prisons Media Spokesman Commissioner Chandana Ekanayake said owing to the heavy congestion, a circular was issued by the Attorney General detailing certain guidelines including bail conditions.
Ekanayake added that the number of inmates in prisons has risen, with around 21,000 inmates housed in prisons at present, claiming it is a rise of 173%.
Accordingly, the directives were issued in order to minimise the spread of COVID-19.
