Sri Lanka, Oct. 5 -- Sri Lanka's prison population has declined gradually in recent months, with the total number of inmates standing at 36,364 as of October 3, 2026, according to official statistics.

The latest figures show that the prison population comprises 10,768 convicted prisoners, including 10,493 males and 275 females, while 25,596 are unconvicted or remand inmates, comprising 23,963 males and 1,633 females.

The total prison population stood at 39,516 inmates as of August 1, indicating a reduction of more than 3,000 inmates over the period.

Despite the decline, unconvicted inmates continue to account for more than 70% of the total prison population, highlighting the pressure created by prolonged remand periods.

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