Sri Lanka, Sept. 10 -- A number of prisoners aged over 70 who are unable to attend to even their basic personal needs remain behind bars, MP Chaminda Wijesiri told Parliament yesterday.

Speaking for the first time in Parliament since his release on bail, Wijesiri said there were also inmates who had spent decades behind bars despite being eligible for release on good behaviour.

"There are a number of inmates in prison who are well over 70 years of age. They cannot even relieve themselves on their own," he said.

He said an inmate who had been sent to prison at the age of 18, more than 30 years ago, died while he was in prison.

"There are a large number of inmates who are eligible for release on good behaviour but they have been inside...