Prisoners to be introduced to reading habit
 

by Anjana Gamage

Prison inmates will soon receive an opportunity to enjoy books of literary value,fiction and other pictorial documents during their incarceration, the Daily News learns.

The Ministry of Justice and Judicial Reforms has decided to upgrade the library facilities of the prisons in order to assist inmates to improve their knowledge by providing them with a variety of books on art and culture.

Therefore, under the instructions of the Minister of Justice and Judicial Reforms, W. D. J. Seneviratne, the Ministry has decided to grant each prison inmate a parcel of books worth Rs.10,000.

"This is a special community project designed for the prison inmates by the Ministry. We believe that through art, literature and other aesthetic means, these their mental abilities would be developed in the fields of general knowledge, education, and other cultural aspects.

After finishing the prison terms, they can join society as responsible human beings once again. In addition to the library development project, the ministry has also taken steps to screen an artistic film every month as well", a spokesman to the Justice Ministry said.

The first parcel of books, under the library development project was handed over to the Welikada women prison unit recently and the other stocks will be distributed shortly among the other prisons throughout the country, sources further said.