A high-profile appointment to a prison oversight committee has ignited a fierce social media debate, raising questions about expertise, representation, and reform in Sri Lanka’s prison system.
Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara has appointed a special committee to strengthen oversight of the prison system, naming model and media personality Stephanie Siriwardhana as a member. The decision has triggered debate on social media, with supporters and critics weighing in on the role of public figures in sensitive state institutions.
Siriwardhana is a well known name in the arts and media sector, having won the Miss Sri Lanka and Miss Asia titles in 2011 and 2013. She is also an experienced English and Sinhala television presenter and a successful fashion model, giving her a strong public profile and youth appeal.
Online reactions remain divided. Some users argue that prison monitoring committees should be staffed strictly by professionals with technical expertise in corrections and law. Others counter that voices from outside the system, especially those with humanitarian perspectives, can bring transparency, empathy, and reform thinking.
Officials say the committee will monitor inmate welfare and administration.
