The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to accelerate the drafting of legislation that would introduce house arrest as a lawful alternative to remand and imprisonment for eligible suspects and convicted offenders, as part of efforts to reduce overcrowding in Sri Lanka’s prisons.
The proposal, submitted by the Minister of Justice and National Integration, authorises the Legal Draftsman to finalise the legislation by incorporating a number of additional provisions identified during a review of the draft Bill.
The move follows an earlier Cabinet policy decision to establish a legal framework allowing courts to impose house arrest on eligible suspects and convicted persons instead of remanding or imprisoning them in suitable cases.
After the Cabinet approved a further review of the draft legislation on 23 June 2025, several additional provisions were identified for inclusion to strengthen the proposed legal framework.
Accordingly, the Cabinet has now instructed the Legal Draftsman to complete the drafting process as a matter of priority by incorporating the recommended amendments.
