Ward for children of women inmates

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Ministry has decided to set up a special ward in the Kalutara Prison for the benefit of women inmates who have been imprisoned with their children aged under five. The decision has been made to take a more humanitarian approach on the issue of these children.

The refurbishment of a building in the Kalutara Prison as a special ward for women inmates is now in progress with financial assistance from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The UNDP has provided nearly Rs.5 million to fully renovate this building.

The unique feature of this special ward is that it will be established outside the prison complex to provide a more conducive environment for the children to spend time with their mothers.

Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera, along with Parliament correspondents made an inspection tour of the Kalutara Prison to view the progress of this ongoing project.

Commissioner General of Prisons, Major General V.R. Silva told the Sunday Observer that there are nearly 52 children under the age of five years in prisons with their mothers.

He said the proposed ward can accommodate 35 to 40 children below five years of age under the protection of their mothers.