Prisoners also have rights and they should be provided with accommodations in accordance with the internationally set guidelines and therefore, the government has decided to relocate all the prisons in the country, cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Addressing the weekly cabinet news briefing at the information department, Minister Rambukwella said prisons situated in cities will thus be relocated in places with more spaces and facilities.

He said the modern jurisprudence focuses attention to rehabilitate convicts than punishing them in a prison environment which has proved counter-productive.      

Accordingly, the cabinet gave the green light to Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera to move the Borella Prison Complex from its present location to Mahara, Watareka and Kalutara, the Tangalle Prison to Ranna, and Matara and Galle Prisons to Pitabeddera.

Other prisons like Bogambara and Jaffna situated at densely populated cities will also be removed and relocated at places with more space in phase by phase basis. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)