Rehabilitation and social reintegration of inmates as better citizens is a very specific objective of the Department of Prisons. Therefore, department makes every effort to accomplish this objective from diverse dimensions.
“Lalitha Sirasara” Concert-11 that identified inborn abilities of inmates and officers on duty and brushed up their skills in singing, acting, playing and dancing, was successfully concluded on 10.11.2023 at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre. At the concert organized by the Department of Prisons together with the Prisoners’ Welfare Association (Welikada Sub Committee), inmates entertained invitee guests and the audience by singing, playing, dancing, acting, performing “Angampora”etc. Further, several prison officers presented their skills as well as eminent artists like Mr.Keerthi Paskuwel, singer Samitha Erandathi Mudunkotuwa made the concert more colorful.
Senior Prison Officers such as retired Additional Commissioner General of Prisons, Mr.Chandana Ekanayaka, present Additional Commissioner General of Prisons. Mr.T,I,Uduwara, Commissioner of Prisons (Rehabilitation), Mr.Gamini Dissanayaka, Senior Superintendent of Prisons, Mr.Jagath Werasinghe, Assistant Superintendent of Prisons, Mr.Prasad Premathilake gave a huge contribution to complete this program organized under the patronage of the Commissioner General of Prisons, Mr.Thushara Upuldeniya.
Mr. Keerthi Paskuwel, the veteran singer for singing and instrumental items, the Island Stompers Dance Group led by Mr. Supun Abeysinghe and Mrs.Dilshi Shyama for the western dance items, the The Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the State Dance Group for cultural dance items, Dance teacher, Ms. Nadika Perera for other dance elements, veteran theater artist Mr. Sanath Wimalasiri and awarded actress, Mrs.Umali Thilakaratne for stage drama song elements and acting, Naadro founder and creative director for local drum beating, Mr.Rakitha Wickramaratne for drumming items, singer, Ms.Ashanti De Alvis for songs training (western), Mr. Sadun Fernando, veteran director of Angampora Martial Arts, and Mr.Muditha Prabhat Erathne, Rehabilitation Officer for guiding inmates in music songs, gave instructions and led the show. Also, well known announcers Mr. Kamal Kariyawasam and Mrs.Stephanie Siriwardena and Mrs.Vasana Lakmali led the concert. For this occasion, Honorable Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, President’s Attorney, Mr.Wijedasa Rajapaksa and Honorable State Minister, Attorney at Law, Mr.Anuradha Jayaratne, Honorable Minister of Justice and Transport, Mr.Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Honorable Member of Parliament Mr.Vajira Abeywardena, Chief of Staff of the President, Mr.Sagala Ratnayake, Secretary of Defense, General Kamal Gunaratne, Commissioner General of Prisons, Mrs.Thushara Upuldeniya, senior artists, scholars, government officials and other dignitaries attended the occasion.
