Prisons Media Spokesman and Commissioner Senaka Pallathtenna says any person sentenced to more than three years in prison must be produced before court wearing clothing issued by the Department of Prisons, in accordance with prison regulations.
Issuing a statement, he made the clarification amid various views circulating on social media regarding the clothing worn by prisoners being produced before courts.
Pallathtenna said that under prison regulations, a Buddhist monk sentenced to simple imprisonment may remain in robes while serving the sentence in prison. However, if the sentence involves rigorous imprisonment, the person must wear prison-issued clothing.
He said that when a sentenced person is produced before court, if the prison sentence is less than three years, the prison superintendent may permit the person to wear the civilian clothing they were wearing before being sentenced. In such cases, a Buddhist monk may also be permitted to wear robes.
However, he said any person sentenced to more than three years must be produced before court wearing clothing issued by the Department of Prisons.
The Prisons spokesman also said that more than 73 religious clergy members are currently serving prison sentences in prisons across the country, and such religious figures are also serving their sentences while wearing prison-issued clothing. (Newswire)
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