COLOMBO (News 1st): A new circular has been issued by the Attorney General with regard to steps to be taken concerning the security and health of prison inmates, especially in view of the COVID-19 cases on the rise.

About 21,000 inmates are currently being held in prisons. As a percentage of the total number of persons that can be held within prisons, its 173%, Commissioner of Prisons Administration and Rehabilitation and Prisons Spokesperson Chandana Ekanayake says.

Accordingly, several steps have been taken at the request of the Commissioner-General of Prisons, according to relevant directives issued by the Attorney General to the IGP.

The Attorney General, in the circular, has instructed the IGP not to remand prisoners in custody except for special circumstances, and to limit prisoners from entering Court premises.

The circular also emphasizes that Prison, Court and Police authorities may grant bail whenever they can when inmates are produced in Court.

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