Sri Lanka, Aug. 17 -- Some 1,178 prisoners have escaped from prisons during the last five years, a report from the Department of Prisons revealed.

As per the report 153 inmates have escaped in 2019, 110 in 2020, 103 in 2021, 231 in in 2022, 207 in 2023, 188 in 2024 while 186 have escaped in 2025.

Around 474 inmates have recaptured while 734 are moving about freely to this date .

The government has assured that steps have been taken to resolve issues pertaining to prisons. Accordingly it has been pledged that the court of appeal will sit in provinces after the 22nd amendment is enacted. The government has also pledged to increase the number of judges to expedite the hearing of cases.

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