Sri Lanka’s government is drafting new legislation to allow courts to place suspects under house arrest instead of remanding them in prison.
Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said the move aims to reduce severe overcrowding in prisons.
The country’s prisons were built to hold about 10,500 inmates. However, they now house nearly 39,000.
The minister said the main concern is the high number of remand prisoners who have not been convicted. Around 28,000 inmates remain in remand custody. Of that number, about 20,000 face drug-related charges.
Under the proposed law, courts could order home detention in suitable cases instead of sending suspects to prison. Authorities expect this change to reduce congestion and improve prison management.
Meanwhile, the government has identified gaps in the system for reviewing long-term sentences. At present, no formal framework exists to reconsider life sentences or death penalties. A committee chaired by Justice Thurairaja will study options to introduce a structured sentence review mechanism.
The minister also highlighted pressure on the judicial system. Courts currently handle about 1.1 million pending cases. However, he said case disposal rates have improved under the current Chief Justice.
Authorities are establishing new courts to speed up proceedings. These include special courts for Easter Sunday cases and bribery matters. Officials plan to set up seven additional courts.
The minister also confirmed that the government will amend the proposed rent legislation after receiving public feedback. He said authorities will not pass the bill in its current form.
Officials say the reforms aim to ease pressure on prisons and improve the efficiency of the justice system.
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Last modified: February 20, 2026
