Sri Lanka’s religious schools in prison to rehabilitate prisoners

(May 31, 2011) Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms wants to set up what it calls “religious schools” in all the country’s prisons, in order to educate, rehabilitate and prepare prisoners for the outside world. Officially unveiled on 13 May, the plan includes courses on Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism in 33 prisons, It also includes correctional centres for young offenders. The country’s religious and spiritual leaders have praised the initiative but warn that the task transcends teaching and constitutes a great responsibility. “Prison teachers should be well trained, so that prisoners can get their lives back ” said Ven. Weligama Dhammissara Thero of Wellampitiya. For Fr Noel Dias, a Catholic priest and former prison chaplain of the Colombo Diocese, the proposal would meet a real need. Society needs honest people. It is up to the authorities to prepare them,” he said. And Ramachandra Kurukkal Babusharma, secretary of the International Hindu Religious Federation said “There are all sorts of people in prison. Whatever their offences, it is our duty to help them on the path of responsibility. Religion certainly makes better human beings,” he added