Vocational skill training centres to be set-up for prisoners

Two vocational skills and training centres are to be constructed for the rehabilitation of prisoners in the near future.

Cabinet approval had been granted yesterday (Sept 10) for the release of funds by the Treasury to the Department of Prisons to carry out the construction of these projects.

This year's annual budget had proposed to set-up Kibbutz style farms in the Ambepussa and Weerawila prisons.

However, the Justice Minister had proposed to set-up an Agricultural and Vocational Skills centre in the Weerawila and Embiliyapitiya prisons, instead of the farms.

Minister Thalatha Athukorale, in her proposal had said that prisoners who are serving imprisonment terms over narcotic offences could engage in vocational training at these centres.

The Justice Minister also suggested the establishment of a training centre at a bare land near the Mahara Prisons for female prisoners, instead of setting it up in Dompe as proposed in the budget.