Sept 30, Colombo: Prison authorities in Sri Lanka say that thousands of prisoners were in jail due to the inability to pay the fines imposed by the courts.

Prisons Commissioner General P.W. Kodippily has said that there are over 1,200 prisoners who are in jail since they are unable to pay the court fines.

He has noted that a survey carried out had revealed that the total amount due to be paid as fines by these prisoners amounted to over Rs. 20 million.

However, the Prison Department spends much more than the dues to provide their meals and other necessities while also creating congestion in the prisons in the country.

According to Kodippily, these prisoners are scattered in 23 prisons in the island.

He has explained that some have of these prisoners have been in prison for over an year and are being released in batches on special occasions.