A total of 1,454 convicted prisoners remain in prisons across the country due to their inability to pay court-imposed fines, Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara informed Parliament today (21).

The Justice Minister disclosed the figures in response to an oral question raised by Member of Parliament Rohitha Abeygunawardena regarding the number of prisoners held for failing to settle outstanding fines and the measures taken to facilitate their release.

According to the figures presented by the Minister, 421 prisoners are unable to pay fines ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000, while 220 prisoners owe amounts between Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 25,000.

A further 361 prisoners are unable to settle fines ranging from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000, while 245 prisoners owe between Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 100,000. Another 207 prisoners remain in custody due to their inability to pay fines exceeding Rs. 100,000.

The Justice Minister also informed the House that the country’s prisons currently accommodate 10,611 convicted prisoners and 28,408 remand prisoners.

During the proceedings, MP Abeygunawardena sought clarification on whether the government had introduced a mechanism to facilitate the release of prisoners who remain incarcerated solely due to their inability to pay the imposed fines.

In response, Minister Nanayakkara stated that various organisations and institutions were already implementing programmes to pay outstanding fines on behalf of selected prisoners, thereby facilitating their release.

He further clarified that the Department of Prisons does not prohibit government or non-governmental organisations from settling fines on behalf of eligible prisoners to secure their release, provided the applicable legal requirements are met.