1802 |
The then existing barbarous methods of punishments were banned and causing of death by hanging was introduced by Governor Sir Fredrick North. |
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1812 |
The
first person to be hanged on a fixed gallow, in the
history of Prisons on 10th February. The death sentence
was imposed on him for rising against the British
Government.
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1818 |
After
the rebellion 53 people including Ehalepola Adhikaram
were detained at Ehalepola Adhikaram's residence by
the British, which is presently known as Kandy Remand
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1844 |
First
Prison Ordinance was enacted, entitled "An Ordinance
for the better regulation of Prisons Act No. 18 of
1844", Establishment of Welikada Prison.
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1853 |
An
Ordinance for the safe custody of convicts employed
upon public works Act No.02 of 1853.
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1866 |
An
Ordinance to amend the Ordinance No. 18 of 1844, the
9th and 10th sub-sections of the 31st section. 70th and 71st sections of the Fiscals Ordinance of 1866.Act No.20 of 1866.
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1867 |
1st Prison Commission – Prison Disciplinary Commission No.
1 of 1867 Pingo carrying as punishment was introduced.
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1869 |
An
Ordinance to convert the Welikada and Hultsdorf
Prisons into central convict establishments and to
vest in the Superintendent there of certain powers
vested in the Fiscal of Western Province Act No. 16
of 1869.
Prison
Ordinance Act No. 16 of 1869, establishment of uniformed
prison system under the control of Inspector General
of Prisons.
Prison
Discipline Commission II of 1869, system of giving
guard conduct marks was introduced and remitting
of the terms of their imprisonment.
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1871 |
The first gallows was built in the Welikada Prison on 25th May.
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1875 |
Establishment
of Mahara Prison.
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1876 |
Establishment
of Bogambara Prison.
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1877
-1905 |
The supervisions
and control of all prisons in the Island were vested
in Inspector General of Prisons. From its inception
the office of Inspector General of Prisons was held
by the Inspector General of Police until 1905 when
they separated. Major de Wilton who till then held
both offices was appointed Inspector General of Prisons
and he was also appointed to be the Superintendent
of the Prisons at Welikada, Mutwal and Hultsdorf.
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1883 |
An Ordinance
to provide a general penal code for the colony sentence
of death carried into effect within the walls of the
prison in which the prisoner is confined at the time
of execution (Ordinance No.3 of 1883)
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1885 |
Campbell Park. At the request of Mr.Campbell
the Government a 20 acres of ground in the neighborhood
of Welikada for a Public Recreation Club. Prisoners
were employed in this work.
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1900 |
A Prison riot took place at Mahara quarry. Entire
Sinhalese staff was removed and were replace
by Malay staff.
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1905 |
The Department of Prisons was separated from the Department of Police
as an independent Department on 16th July.
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1911 |
The Printing
machinery at Welikada Prison was given to the Government
Printing Press and two hundred prisoners were sent
daily to work at the Press.
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1918-1920 |
Introduction
of a board system of classification by institutions,
first offenders, juveniles females and reconvicted
prisoners were located in separate institutions. Also
short term and long term first offenders as well as
star class prisoners and the better type of reconvicted
men were further classified and housed in different
sections of the larger prisons.
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1920-1925 |
Organization
of large scale prison industries at Welikada and Bogambara
Prisons and smaller ones at other institutions. A
complete steam laundry was set up Welikada capable
of handling thousands of pieces of linen from Colombo
Hospitals and for washing prisoners' clothing and
other textile requirements were supplied at Welikada.
In these trades and a system of making supplies to
all Government Departments was adopted.
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1922 |
The convicted
settlements at Andaman's were closed down and 62 life
convicts sent back to Ceylon. The sentence was reduced
to 20 years rigorous imprisonment, with the privilege
of prison remission.
The
term of imprisonment of the prisoners sentenced
to Life, was commuted to a 20 year imprisonment
for the first time on 22nd February.
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1923 |
Establishment
on July 1st , 1923 Prison Department
Mutual Provident Fund for the benefit of the subordinate
staff of the department and with the object of promoting
thrift, affording relief by means of loans to its
members in times of sickness or distress and of making
provisions for themselves, widows and orphans
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1926 |
Application
of Scout principles in the training of youthful offenders
was introduced and the Welikada Prison troop was registered
by the Imperial Scout Headquarters as the 1st troop of its kind in
the world.
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1931 |
Report
of the Prisons inquiry Commission 1931. Sessional
Paper 1 of 1932 (Gavin Commission Reports.)
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1932 |
Sessional
Paper XVII-1932. Report of the Committee appointed
to consider the question of Prison industries.
Establishment of Magazine Remand Prison
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1933-1936 |
Direct recruitment to the middle and exclusive
grades commenced. System of local visiting committee
introduced. Strict provisions introduced for the
investigation of prisoner's complaints.
Series of prison offences such as escapes,
assault of prison officers made triable by District
Judge and a Tribunal.
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1936 |
20
Former
training officers
were recruited and
a 3 months training was given. 12 completed the training
course.
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1937 |
A Prison
officers' Training centre was started in 1937 and
all subordinates officers in the institutions side
were recruited as learner guards and received 3 months
course of training at the training centre.
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1939 |
An Ordinance
to amend the Prison Ordinance Number 53 of 1939.
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1940 |
Establishment
of the Training School for Youthful Offenders at Wathupitiwala,
the 1st Open Borstal Institution in Asia for Youth Offenders.
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1944 |
Introducing
of the Probation system as a branch of the Prison
Department Recruitment and training of the first
batch officers.
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1946-1955 |
Expansion of the Probation Service to cover
all the judical areas of the country. Organization
of Remand Houses, Certified Schools and Probation
Hostels.
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1949 |
Report
of the Special Committee on Prison Administration
sessional Paper xviii.
Gratien
Commission Report
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1950 |
Establishment
of the Open Prison at Pallekele, the 1st of the kind in Aisa.
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1952 |
Commencement
of scheme for senior officers to be sent abroad for
training and further study under the Colombo Plan
under various fellowship schemes
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1952-1954 |
Organisation
of the building branch of the Department.
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1954 |
Establishment
to of C.C.Y.O at Negombo.
Break
water and Slave Island - These prisons were closed
by order of the Minister published in the Gazette
No.10640 of 12th February.
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1956 |
Suspension of the death penalty in Sri
Lanka. Separation of the Probation Service from the
Department of Prisons to from the nucleus of a new
Department called the Department of Probation and
Child Care Services.
Entire
Fiscal Establishments were handed over to the Department
of Prisons.
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1956-1957 |
Transfer
of all fiscal lock –ups in the country
to the Prison Department.
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1957-1958 |
Establishment
of Open Camps at Anuradhapura, Batticaloa and
Jaffna.
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1958 |
Introduction of the 9 hours working day for
all prison staff and system of payment of overtime
to all officers of and below the rank of Jailor.
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1959 |
Appointment
of a Commission on the Death Penalty in Sri Lanka
under the Chairmanship of Professor Norval Morris
- Sessional paper XIV of 1959.
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1960 |
Re-introduction
of death penalty.
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1968 |
increase
of remission from ¼ to 1/3.
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1971 |
Insurgency
– Sudden influx of about 17,000 persons to prison
institutions and camps causing disruption of normal
prison activities.
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1971-1975 |
Departmental
officer deployed to assist in the rehabilitation of
insurgents who were alleged to be marginally involved
in the attempted insurrection.
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1974 |
Establishment
of the Experimental Prisoners' Co -operative farm
at Mithirigala, abolition of star class prisoners,
Formation of Discharged Prisoners Co-operative introduction
of the work release scheme.
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1975 |
Establishment
of the centre for Research and training in Correction
with residential facilities for 40 trainees at a time.
Service of two U.N. Experts
obtained to set up
adequate
staff training, programmed pre – service and
in – service training course for all staff was
organized.
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1976 |
Establishment
of Pallansena Open Correctional Centre
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1977 |
Increase
of staff approved thought the Management Service Division
of the Ministry of Public Administration.
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1977-1978 |
Establishment
of Weerawila Open Work Camp.
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1978 |
Library
at the Centre Research and Training in Correction
Formation
of National Association for Prevention of Crime
and Delinquency.
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1979-1980 |
A system
of work camps for short – term and medium –term
prisoners was introduced.
Publication
of the first issue of the 'Prison Statistics of
Sri Lanka' complied by Mr.K.L.C.Athukorala,Ex. statistical
officer, Prisons Headquarters.
Prison
Reform Commission under the Chairmanship of V.N.
Pillai – Sessional paper VI of 1981
Hulftsdrop
Prison was closed on 26th August 1979.
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1981 |
Opening
of the family rehabilitation center,Senapura.
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1982 |
Prison
Lock ups at Kegalle and Trincomalee were up graded
to the status of Remand Prisons with effect from 20.01.1982
In February,1982
the two (2) institutions which were opened as "
WORK CAMPS FOR YOUNG OCCENDERS" Pallansena
and Taldena respectively were subsequently renamed
as "CORRECIIONAL CENTERS FOR YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS".
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1983 |
Unprecedented
increase of unconvicted prisoners' administration
owing to the state of emergency following the ethnic
disturbances of July,1983.
Welikada
Prison Colombo figured prominently in this Ethnic
disturbance, when on 25th and 27th July 1983,53 Tamil detainees were killed by other Prisoners in
a Prison riot which broke out immediately after
violence broke out in the Country. The inquest into
the details was held by the Chief Magistrate Colombo
assisted by Senior Attorneys from the Attorney General's
Department and the Verdict was homicide due to a
prison riot.
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1984 |
(i) Nawajeevanagma
colony established for 300 discharged Prisoners at
Padaviya was attacked by Tamil Terrorists on 30th
November, 1984 killing 56 discharged prisoners and
members of their families.
(ii)
Inauguration of UNESCO club in Welikada and Bogambara
Prisons (First UNESCO club in Prisons in the Island).
(iii)
A Sudden increase of those admitted to prison for
drug offences from 580 in 1980 to 1777 in 1984.
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1985 |
Center
for Research and Training Corrections which was established
with the UNDP assistance completed 10 years
on 30th April, 1985.
The
closure of Jaffna Prison on 12.05.1985 and
the shifting of the Superintendent's office to the
Magistrate Bungalow at Old Park Road, Jaffna. All
the inmates were relocated at Negombo Prison.
Family
Rehabilitation Center at Senapura was handed back
to the Department of Social Services in April, 1985
The
Open Prison Camp at Kopay was attacked by Tamil
Terrorists who destroyed the buildings with all valuable
articles in May, 1985.
Establishment
of Permanent Center" Legal Aid" for the
benefit of remand prisoners at the Magazine Remand
Prison in Collaboration with the Legal Aid Council
(O.S.M Seneviratne Commission) Appointing of
a Committee to consider changing the practice procedure
and rules, related to prisons having regard to changed
circumstances headed by Hon. Justice O.S.M.Seneviratne,
Justice of the Supreme Court.
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1986 |
Establishment of a Transit Camp at Palawatta
in the kalutara District for a certain category of
persons arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism
Act.
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1987 |
Inauguration
of Sewa Vanitha Unit of the Department of
Prisons on 11th March 1987 by Mrs. C. Ranaraja the President of the Seva Vanitha
Unit of the Ministry of Justice.
The Magazine
Remand Prison which was confined to ordinary Remand
Prisoners was set apart detainees who have been
arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and
Emergency Regulations with effect from 7th May, 1987.
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1988 |
Due to unfavourable conditions which prevailed in the island during the latter part of the year Welikada,Bogamabara,Magazine Remand and Transit Camp at Pelawatta, experienced unfavourable conditions. A Prison riot of November 1988
which took place in Welikada Prison caused a considerable
destruction to office buildings and stores. Also there
was a major escape of detainees numbering 221 who
had been in custody under the prevention of Terrorism
Act from Magazine Remand Prison and 131 of them who
were also in detention under the same Act Pelawatta
Transit Camp.
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1989 |
For the
first time in the history of Prisons Department the
Officers from Wekikada, Mahara and some other Prisons
were out of duty points demanding higher salary scales,
extra set of uniforms and welfare amenities, for them.
This was not an organized strike but walk out due
to the conditions prevailed in this country, During
this period. Most of the demands were granted like
an undertaking to increase salaries and other welfare
amenities within 24 hours. During this period the
security of those prisons were taken up by security
forces.
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1990 |
The Work
Camp at Weerawila has been converted to a Camp for
terrorist detainees with effect from 29th June,1990.
Navodawa a Rehabilitation Center inaugurated
to reform inmates convicted on changes of dangerous
drug addition.
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1991 |
In 04th August, 1991 opening
of the Remand Prison, Kalutara.
Koggala
Work Camp was closed down in 31st December,1991 to make way for a free Trade Zone.
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1993 |
Establishment
of Kuruwita Work Camp.
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1995 |
Ceremonial
d7u ress for Prison Officers.
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1996 |
Weerawila
Work Camp was taken over from the Ministry of Defense
A
Project under which awarding of scholarships to
the children of employees of the Department of Prisons
was established.
Committee
to examine the existing Legal Provisions and Administration
practice, relating to the welfare of prisons –
Headed by Walter Ladduwahetti.
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1997 |
Re- establishment
of Jaffna Prison
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1999 |
Kuruwita
Work Camp was supplemented with a Remand Prison
Inauguration
of the Boossa Prison
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2002 |
Establishment of Wariyapola Open Work Camp
Conversion
of Lock-ups at Polonnaruwa and Monaragala into Remand
Prisons.
Handing
over the Ratnapura Lock-up to the Ratnapura Police.
The
Department of Prison was transferred to the Ministry
of Interior.
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2003 |
A radio signals system was established between Colombo and Mahara Prisons.
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2006 |
Establishment of an open school at Pallansena
Female
section of the Welikada Prison was detached and
attached to the Magazine Remand Prison.
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2007 |
Inauguration of Sri Lanka Prisons Day on 16th July
A memorial was built in memory of prison officers who died on duty.
Inaugural Colours Night of the Department of Prisons was held for
the merits of sports.
Introduction of a prison song for the Department of Prisons
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2008 |
Female section of the Magazine Remand Prison was detached and re-attached
to the Welikada Prison.
Commencement of the registration of convicted prisoners in Mahara
Prison.
Commencement of the Women's section at the Matara Prison.
Commencement of the Open Work Camp in Thunkama,Embilipitiya.
Lock - up in Kalutara, under the authority of Urban Council of Kalutara.
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2009 |
Establishment of Remand Prison in Vavuniya.
Establishment of a security and Intelligence Division.
Training school for Youthful offender's in Pallansena was shifted to Ambepussa
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2010 |
Commencement of the Work Camp in Hangilipola
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2014 |
Training School for Youthful Offenders in Ambepussa was shifted on 18th of March to Watareka Work Camp and Opened School their named as "SUNEETHA"
.
The Kandy Remand Prison and the Bogambara Prison was named as Bogambara Prison on 05th of June as one Establishment at Dumbara - Pallekele.
The Prison " Overseer" and " Welfare Officer" ranks has been changed to "Sargeant" and "Rehabilitation Officer" respectively.
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2016 |
Prisoners Welfare Division is under the control of a Commissioner of Prisons
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2017 |
"Prison's Welfare Association" that was established in 1917 for the benefit of inmates their families and children celebrated it's century proudly.
The Tangalle Remand Prison was shifted to Angunakolapelessa Remand Prison on 03rd of November.
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