107th Prison Day to felicitate officers

by Ranil WIJAYAPALA

The role of the prison officials, who are the prime movers behind making the wrong doers before the legal system in the country into good citizen may not have drawn the attention of the society in the 107 years history of the Prison Department after it was established on July 16, 1905 during the British rule as a separate Department.

These prison officials may have been subjected to criticism in their lifetime in their effort to execute the orders given by the Courts in the country and may have been blamed for their mere shortcoming when handling the hardcore criminals serving their prison terms in prison cells.

But when the Prison Department is ready to mark the 107 th anniversary of the Department they are ready to make a change in its history by admiring the role of the prison officials who had performed an exemplary service in the Department.

As a part of marking the 107th Prison Day that falls on July 16, Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Ministry along with the Prison Department is ready to award medals for 283 uniformed prison officials who have completed more than 25 years of exemplary service in the Department and another 33 non uniformed employees of the Department.

Accordingly, three officers who have completed 40 years service, 69 officers who have completed 30 years service, and 211 officers who have completed 25 years services will be awarded service medals. Apart from that another 33 non uniformed prison employees who have completed more than 33 years of service will also be felicitated at the colours night on July 16.

P.W. Kodippili	A. Dissanayaka

Five prison officials who have rendered their service even at the risk of their life will also be awarded medals for their acts of bravery at the Prison Day Colours Award ceremony to be held on July 16 at 6 pm at Ananda College, Kularatna Hall with the participation of Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa as the chief guest and under the patronage of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera.

Parallel to the main celebration on July 16, the Prison Department is also organising a series of events including blood donation campaigns, shramadana campaigns, alms giving ceremonies and other functions to mark this occasion.

An exhibition depicting talents of the Prison officials are also now being held at the Campbell Park, Borella and it will continue till July 16.

Secretary to Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Ministry A. Dissanayaka expressing his views about the Prison Day celebrations said, the Ministry is encouraging the prison officials to perform their duties effectively in their effort to making the prisoners a better citizen.

“At present we are focusing more on rehabilitating the prisoners, providing them a better environment and building prisons at more spacious places. For this, we need the support of the prison officials and we are trying to encourage them through these service awards and medals”, Dissanayaka added.

He said currently the Prison Department is running its operation with a severe shortage of staff as we have only one prison officer for 6 inmates.

“We are going to recruit more prison officers soon as the Cabinet have already given approval for the recruitment of 830 prison officers based on the competitive examination held in 2011”, he added. Commissioner General of Prisons Department P.W. Kodippili said the Prison service and colours award ceremony will be an encouraging factor for the prison officials as their service has not been admired in the past.

“We are frequently getting criticism but many people are not aware of the hardships the prison officials are facing when handling things at the prisons”, he added.

He said in their endeavours to minimise incidents in prisons they have conducted several raids in prisons and detected 321 mobile phones including the sophisticated mobile phones among the prisoners.

“As a part of facilitating the process of screening the prisoners, the Prison Department has installed 28 metal detectors in major prisons in the country and another 60 metal detectors have already been ordered to be installed in prisons”, he added.

As a part of improving the facilities at the Prison the Department is introducing many facilities to the inmates conforming to international standards.