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SRI LANKA'S PRISONS
Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka
|August 06, 2025
OVERWHELMED BY DRUG ADDICTS
Despite intensified operations to curb drug-related crimes across the country, Sri Lanka is grappling with a growing crisis on two fronts, a surge in drug addiction and a critically overcrowded prison system that has far exceeded its holding capacity.
According to data released by the Public Security Ministry, over 125,000 individuals have been arrested since January 1 this year, with more than 100,000 arrests linked specifically to drug-related offences.
The rise in drug-related arrests points to a growing problem, adding further pressure to prisons that are already struggling with overcrowding.
Currently, Sri Lanka’s 36 prison facilities house nearly 34,000 inmates, though their official capacity is only 12,000.
Prisons Spokesman Commissioner Jagath Weerasinghe said that over 65% of the incarcerated population is imprisoned for drug-related offences.
This overwhelming number is putting a heavy burden on the prison system, which is already struggling with limited resources and security concerns.
This story is from the August 06, 2025 edition of Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka.
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