To share their sorrows and happiness:

Boon for prison inmates

By Lakshme Parasuraman

The Prisons Reform and Rehabilitation Ministry has set up several telephone booths in the Welikada Prison premises, so that the prisoners could contact their homefolk.

This facility has been provided by some private companies.

Each prisoner is permitted to talk to three telephone numbers for 10 minutes a week, to share their sorrows and happiness said, Prisons Reform and Rehabilitation Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera.

Each prisoner has been given a separate code number. Their communications will be monitored by the prison officers while the security fingerprint and recording device being fixed to the booths, the minister said.

Initially 'Telecom' had granted a free first call for all prisoners and later Rs. 25 to the locals and Rs. 100 for foreigners undergoing prison sentences.

Making one 'homesick is a bigger punishment than imprisonment. We realise how much the prisoners suffer mentally by staying away from their homes and as a solution we had set up this communication service. We hope the prisoners will not misuse this facility to indulge in illegal activities', the Minister said.

Commissioner General of Prisons, Chandraratna Pallegama said, they had not permitted mobile phones in the prison.

About 95 percent of mobile phones had been used to contact their family members and only 5 percent has for unauthorised calls. Hence this is a golden opportunity for prisoners to get over their homesickness, he said.