Prison inmates bring in 253 million rupee revenue
The Department of Prisons has earned over Rs253 million revenue by facilitating prisoners to engage in agricultural activities and various industrial activities in 2023.
Department of Prisons Commissioner General Thushara Upuldeniya said that over 90 million rupees had been earned during 2023 from getting inmates to engage in agriculture therapy.
He explained that agriculture therapy is a method used to help people who are suffering from social, mental and physical issues.
Mr Upuldeniya added that getting prison inmates to nurture and care for crops would encourage good behaviour and help the incarcerated inmates get used to a normal way of life within the prison, which would benefit them when they are integrated into society at the end of the jail term.
He added that research carried out in the United States, South Korea and Europe have revealed that 1 out of 7 prisoners are suffering from psychosis or diagnosed with clinical depression, therefore getting inmates engaged in agriculture therapy also helps them.
“The prisoners feel abandoned, they lose the sense of privacy and lack meaningful activities, as well as miss social interactions when they are imprisoned. Therefore when they are released they find it difficult to re-adjust to society. Agriculture therapy helps to prevent such issues,” he said.
The programmes are carried out at 13 prions situated at Pallansena, Pallekele, Weerawila, Thaldena, Kurundugasara, Kuruvita, Anuradhapura, Hangilipola, Wariyapola, Wataraka, Meethirigaka, Kandewatta, Batticaloa and Pitabaddara areas.