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Modern 58-acre prisons complex in Hambantota to house 1,000 inmates
New prisons to be set up in Hambantota will be fully equipped with a gymnasium, indoor sports complex and better toilet facilities, a senior official said.
The new prison complex will be constructed on a 58-acre plot of land in the Angunukolapelessa area in the Hambantota district. The Cabinet-approved prisons project is to commence next month and continue for 22 months. Stage I of the project is estimated to cost Rs 50 million and completed in two years.
Prison Reforms and Rehabilitation Ministry Secretary, G.S. Vithanage told the Sunday Times that, once completed, the prison will house about 1,000 inmates with the majority being remand and convicted prisoners.
“At present, the Tangalle prison is overcrowded with about 600 prisoners. All the prisoners in Tangalle will be relocated to the new prison complex. Plans are also afoot to shift some of the prisoners in Welikada and other prisons to the new prison,” he said.
Prisons Dept Spokesman, Gamini Kulatunge said that the prisoners will also have communication facilities and new telephone booths with transparent glass barriers.
Mr Kulathunga said that, there is no plan to shift all 3,000 Welikada inmates to Hambantota, but discussions are taking place regarding the re-location of Welikada prison.
Last year, Cabinet approved Rs 96 million for the construction of two-storeyed buildings at Mahara and Watareka work camp, to accommodate prisoners from Welikada prison. The Welikada prison complex is situated on a 48 acres of land.
“Most of the prisons built during British rule are situated in city centres. These are prime lands and economically valuable. It’s high time Welikada prison is shifted to a safer place, as re-location of thousands of prisoners is a hard task with high costs involved,” the Prisons Spokesman said.
He added that, the 13-acre Bogambara prison in Kandy town has now been shifted to a well-located place, freeing the former area to the government for a more economical project.