-By A Staff Writer
(Lanka-e-News -23.Jan.2025, 11.30 PM) Prison is supposed to be a place where one reflects on their crimes, reforms, and repents. But in Sri Lanka, for those with deep pockets, it’s more like checking into a five-star hotel — albeit one with slightly fewer TripAdvisor reviews. Welcome to the absurd world of Sri Lankan prison corruption, where cash can buy you anything, from VIP access to your loved one to air-conditioned jail cells for the country’s most notorious criminals.
For most families, visiting a loved one in prison involves queuing in the blistering heat for hours. But why stand in line like a commoner when you can simply pay Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 50,000 to a friendly prison guard and skip the hassle? It’s practically a fast-track pass to the penitentiary! Forget Disney’s FastPass — Sri Lanka’s prisons are where the real innovation in queue management lies.
What’s even better? With enough cash, you can go from waiting behind a metal gate to sipping tea in the prison “VIP lounge” with your inmate relative. Sure, this VIP lounge might not have velvet sofas, but when you’re inside for bribery or embezzlement, it’s nice to know your money still works its magic.
Ordinary prisoners sleep on overcrowded floors in cells so packed that even sardines would file a human rights complaint. But for the country’s drug lords and gang leaders, the story is a little different. With the right amount of bribes, they live better lives in prison than most free citizens outside.
Take the infamous case of Duminda Silva, a convicted murderer whose prison stay has been likened to a spa retreat. Silva’s family reportedly spends up to Rs. 1 million per week to ensure their beloved “guest” enjoys his time behind bars. His perks allegedly include:
* A private room with air conditioning.
* Personal access to a shower and bathroom (no communal latrines for him!).
* A bed with clean linens, a fan, and — wait for it — his own charging station for his phone.
* Free access to the internet, so he can stream Netflix or conduct “business meetings” without interruptions.
At this rate, it’s hard to tell if Silva is serving a sentence or running his own Silicon Valley startup from his “cell.”
The prison system’s corruption is so widespread that it’s practically an industry. Guards, clerks, and even high-ranking officials reportedly collect bribes amounting to Rs. 1 billion per day — yes, per day. That’s enough to fund several national development projects, but instead, it’s being used to maintain a parallel luxury economy inside the walls of Sri Lanka’s jails.
And it’s not just the big fish. Even minor offenders can grease a few palms to get perks like better food or extra phone time. After all, why serve a sentence when you can serve yourself some privileges?
While the criminal elite enjoy their penthouse prisons, the majority of inmates are crammed into spaces so small they can barely sit, let alone sleep. Prisons like Colombo Remand and Welikada are operating at over 300% capacity. Cells designed for 20 inmates now hold 60, and personal space is a distant dream.
Basic hygiene is a luxury most prisoners cannot afford, and diseases spread faster than rumors about who bribed whom. Overcrowding isn’t just inhumane; it’s a logistical nightmare for the already short-staffed prison system, which is reportedly 1,500 guards below the required number.
Fixing corruption in Sri Lanka’s prisons feels like trying to mop the ocean. But some countries have shown us the way forward. Here are a few ideas that could work if Sri Lanka decides to get serious about prison reform:
1. Rotating Prison Staff
Countries like Canada, Japan, and South Korea transfer their prison officers regularly to prevent them from forming corrupt relationships with inmates or their families. A similar system in Sri Lanka could limit the opportunities for bribery and favoritism.
2. CCTV and Monitoring
Install high-quality CCTV cameras and ensure all prison areas are monitored 24/7. Footage should be reviewed regularly by an independent body to catch any suspicious activities. Of course, this assumes someone wants to catch these activities, which is another challenge entirely.
3. Independent Oversight
Assign independent teams from the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) to monitor prison activities. These teams should have unrestricted access to all areas of the prison and the authority to investigate complaints against staff.
4. Judicial Visits
Judges and officials from the Ministry of Justice should conduct surprise visits to prisons. Seeing Duminda Silva lounging in an air-conditioned room with his feet up and a cup of tea might finally prompt some action.
5. Focus on Rehabilitation, Not Punishment
Overcrowding is partly caused by short-term sentences for minor offenses. Offering alternatives like community service or fines for non-violent offenders could reduce the prison population and make it easier to manage resources.
6. Address Corruption Head-On
This is the tough one. Tackling corruption requires strong political will, transparent investigations, and, frankly, a lot of courage. But until the government and judiciary take this issue seriously, the prison system will remain a joke — albeit an expensive one.
Sri Lanka’s prison system is a microcosm of its broader societal problems: inequality, corruption, and inefficiency. While some inmates languish in squalor, others live like royalty, protected by bribes and the complicity of prison officials.
It’s high time the government addressed this issue, not just for the sake of the prisoners but for the credibility of the justice system itself. Until then, Sri Lanka’s prisons will remain a bizarre blend of hell and high society — a place where crime doesn’t just pay; it pays for air conditioning.
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by (2025-01-23 18:53:18)
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