Sri Lanka to set up rehabilitation bureau for ‘addicts, militants, extremists’

ECONOMYNEXT  – Sri Lanka is looking to set up a ‘rehabilitation bureau’ for “drug addicts, militants and members of violent extremist groups”, a government statement said.

The bill to set up the bureau was approved by the cabinet of ministers this week. The cabinet gave the go ahead to draft the law last April.

It is expected to oversee treatment, rehabilitation, post-protection and related activities for the individuals under the program.

Sri Lanka’s existing Rehabilitation Centres have been cause for controversy over the years, with a recent mass escape and death at the Kandakaduwa Drug Rehabilitation Centre gaining public attention.

Patients at such centres have alleged mistreatment at the hands of the officials in charge.

The patients who broke out of Kandakaduwa in July were filmed begging to not be sent back to the center.

Activists allege authorities tend to treat dehumanize inmates, treat them criminals and not people in need of help, and do they not receive the medical or psychological attention necessary to successfully reintegrate into society.

Such centers fall under the purview of the Bureau of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation in Sri Lanka, and are heavily militarized, critics have said.

They have been under heavy criticism by various human rights activists and international organisations such as the UN.

The Kandakadu incident is currently being investigated by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission probing rehabilitation centre mass escape