The Sri Lankan government is preparing to introduce new legislation to allow suspects to be placed under house arrest instead of being remanded in prison, in a bid to address severe overcrowding in the country’s prison system.
Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara announced on February 19 that draft legislation is being formulated in consultation with legal experts, including Supreme Court Justice Yasantha Kodagoda.
Designed for 10,000 – Holding 39,000
According to the Minister, Sri Lanka’s prisons were originally built during the Victorian era to accommodate around 10,500 inmates.
However, the current prison population has risen to approximately 39,000, of whom nearly 28,000 are remand prisoners awaiting trial.
“The issue is not the 10,000 convicted prisoners. The real challenge lies with the large number of remand detainees,” the Minister stated.
How the Proposed House Arrest System Will Work
Under the proposed law:
- Suspects may be placed under house arrest instead of remand custody.
- Electronic monitoring systems will be used to track compliance.
- Movement restrictions and bail conditions will be digitally supervised.
The system aims to ensure that suspects remain within designated premises while reducing pressure on prison facilities.
International Practice
House arrest mechanisms are already implemented in several Asian countries including Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines, China and Singapore, as well as in a number of Western nations.
Such systems are widely used during trial proceedings and, in certain cases, even as a form of punishment for high-profile political figures.
While the legislative drafting process is underway, no official timeline has yet been announced for implementation.
