Facing a prison crisis with nearly 39,000 inmates in facilities built for just 10,500, Sri Lanka’s government is drafting new laws to introduce electronic house arrest as a bold alternative to remand custody.
How will the government implement the house arrest system instead of jailing suspects?
The government is preparing to introduce legislation to implement a house arrest system instead of routinely remanding suspects, as a response to severe prison overcrowding. Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara outlined the proposed reform at a media conference on February 19, describing it as a practical solution to reduce congestion and public expenditure.
This alternative detention model, already practiced in countries such as Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines, China, Singapore and several Western nations, relies on electronic monitoring and controlled movement restrictions. According to the minister, the system would ease pressure on correctional facilities while ensuring that suspects comply with legal conditions during ongoing investigations or trials.
‘39,000 in prisons that can hold 10,000’
Responding to questions on prison reform, the minister revealed alarming statistics. When the present administration assumed office, prisons housed around 27,000 inmates. However, facilities built during the Victorian era to accommodate approximately 10,500 people now hold nearly 39,000. He stressed that the system lacks the capacity to expand infrastructure at the pace of arrests, making alternative sentencing and remand measures essential.
‘The problem is not the 10,000 who are guilty’
Minister Nanayakkara explained that the initiative is being developed in consultation with Justice Yasantha Kodagoda and a panel of legal experts. A new bill will propose electronic monitoring mechanisms that allow certain suspects to remain confined to their homes rather than being placed in remand custody. He noted that roughly 28,000 of the current prison population consists of remand prisoners awaiting trial. The minister emphasized that the real strain comes from those awaiting legal resolution rather than convicted offenders.
‘A system that can be used to stay at home like in prison’
Under the proposed legal framework, suspects could be placed under structured house arrest, monitored electronically to ensure compliance with bail conditions. Authorities are studying global best practices to design a model suited to Sri Lanka’s legal and technological context. While the concept is progressing, the minister acknowledged that a definite timeline for implementation has not yet been finalized. The reform aims to balance justice, public safety and prison decongestion.
