A total of 1,454 prisoners in Sri Lanka remain incarcerated because they are unable to pay court-imposed fines, Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara has revealed.
The Minister disclosed the figures in Parliament while responding to an oral question raised by Member of Parliament Rohitha Abeygunawardena regarding the country's prison population and individuals detained due to unpaid fines.
According to the Minister, 421 prisoners are unable to pay fines ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000, highlighting the number of individuals serving custodial sentences because of outstanding financial penalties.
Nearly 1,500 prisoners unable to pay fines
Providing a detailed breakdown, Minister Nanayakkara stated that 1,454 prisoners were being held due to their inability to settle court-imposed fines.
Of these, 421 prisoners were unable to pay fines between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 15,000, while another 220 prisoners faced fines ranging from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000.
A further 361 prisoners were unable to settle fines between Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 50,000, while 245 prisoners faced outstanding fines ranging from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 100,000.
Additionally, 207 prisoners were being held because they could not pay fines exceeding Rs. 100,000.
Together, these categories account for the 1,454 prisoners identified by the Minister.
Minister reveals overall prison population
During his parliamentary response, the Justice Minister also provided figures relating to the wider prison population.
He stated that Sri Lanka had 10,611 convicted prisoners and 28,408 suspects or remand detainees, bringing the combined total to 39,019 individuals.
The Minister also presented an age-based breakdown of convicted prisoners.
According to the figures provided, 2,160 prisoners were aged between 20 and 30, while 3,423 were aged between 30 and 40.
Another 2,860 prisoners were between 40 and 50 years old, and 1,561 were aged between 50 and 60.
The Minister further reported 601 prisoners aged between 60 and 70, 150 between 70 and 80, and 11 prisoners aged over 80.
These were the figures presented during the parliamentary proceedings.
Organisations helping prisoners settle outstanding fines
During the discussion, MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena questioned whether the government had introduced a programme to secure the release of prisoners who remain incarcerated solely because they cannot afford to pay their fines.
Responding to the question, Minister Nanayakkara said various organisations and institutions were already assisting selected prisoners by paying their outstanding fines.
He explained that such arrangements allow eligible prisoners to be released once the relevant legal and financial requirements have been fulfilled.
The Minister also stated that the prison authorities would not prevent government institutions, non-governmental organisations or other interested parties from helping prisoners settle their outstanding fines.
He indicated that individuals and organisations willing to provide financial assistance could contribute towards securing the release of prisoners detained for non-payment of fines, subject to applicable procedures.
The Minister's remarks highlighted existing efforts to assist prisoners facing continued incarceration because of financial difficulties.
However, the parliamentary response did not specify how many prisoners had already been released through these arrangements or whether a new government-funded programme would be introduced.
