Fair enforcement of the law is essential to building public confidence in state institutions, Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara has stressed.

Addressing the passing-out ceremony of 265 trainee second-grade jailers and prison officers recruited to the Department of Prisons, the Justice Minister said the law must apply equally to everyone, regardless of their position or political influence.

“The law is the same for everyone — those in power, politicians, public officials and ordinary citizens,” Minister Nanayakkara said.

He said the rule of law cannot exist if people with power are treated under one set of rules while those without power face another. Equal application of the law to all, he said, is the foundation of the rule of law and public trust in state institutions.

The Justice Minister urged public servants to carry out their duties impartially, saying they should rely neither on political connections nor outside influence, but instead on their commitment to the law and the responsibilities of public service.

He also highlighted the need for prison policy to move beyond punishment and focus on correction, rehabilitation and the reintegration of inmates into society.

Minister Nanayakkara said crime could not be addressed through punishment alone and noted that people enter prison amid wider social and economic challenges.

He stressed the importance of equipping those released from prison with the skills and opportunities needed to rebuild their lives and avoid returning to criminal activity.