Helping prisoners turn a new leaf
Book by book, those behind the ‘Books Beyond Bars’ project aim to build a model prisons’ library
Worn with use, the book in the prisoner’s hands is being read for the eighth time. Once a shabby corner with just a few books on a small shelf, the Welikada Prison Library renovated last July, now has cupboards, tables and chairs with more than 5000 books of different genres. However, there is a long way to go to create the Model Library planned by the Special Committee on Prison Library Services.
“Prison library service is a neglected area in Sri Lanka which needs more attention, resources and planned development. Though there are thousands of inmates in prisons in Sri Lanka from all strata of society, providing them with quality library and information services is still a distant dream. The main purpose of these institutions is to rehabilitate the people and send them back to society for which the importance of quality library services is invaluable,” says Dr. Premila Gamage, a member of the Special Committee on Prison Library Development, Sri Lanka Library Association.
The Committee launched their ‘Books Beyond Bars’ from January 25 to February 25 inviting the public to donate books for the prison libraries. New or used books in good condition can be handed over by February 25.
Books in Sinhala, Tamil and English are welcome, with a special request for Tamil books which are in short supply. The committee is also asking for inspirational and motivational books, dictionaries, thesauruses and English grammar books.
Children’s books and colouring books are also needed for the children under 5 who live with their mothers who are serving time.
Padma Bandaranayake, Convenor, Special Committee Library Development, Sri Lanka Library Association, says a donation has come in from Sri Lankans in the US. However, with 30 prisons in Sri Lanka, the ultimate goal is to give 10,000 books to each prison to set up proper libraries.
“Some of the long-time inmates said ‘Sir now we are matured and if we had the knowledge we have now by reading we would never have ended up in prison’,” says Commissioner of Prisons (Supply and Services) Chandana Ekanayake who has been spearheading the project. Thy have benefited from reading, he feels and he is eager to have well functioning libraries in prisons across the island.
He cites books like the autobiography of South African leader Nelson Mandela as having a great impact. Many are keen to study and learn, he adds- 20 took the Daham Pasal Final Certificate with 19 of them passing the exam. Two others passed the Dharmacharya Examination, which permits them to teach in Dhamma Schools.
Ms Bandaranayake is hopeful they could improve library access for female detainees-5% of the prisoners in Sri Lanka are women and most of them are in Welikada.