Prison authorities say any person sentenced to more than three years in prison must be produced before court wearing clothing issued by the prison, in accordance with prison regulations.
Prison Media Spokesperson and Commissioner Senaka Pallesthenna made the clarification in response to various views circulating on social media regarding the clothing worn by inmates.
He said that under prison regulations, a Buddhist monk serving a simple imprisonment sentence may remain in robes while serving the sentence in prison.
However, if a monk or any other person is sentenced to rigorous imprisonment, the individual is required to wear prison clothing.
Pallesthenna further explained that when an inmate serving a sentence of less than three years is produced before court, the prison superintendent may permit the person to wear the civilian clothing worn before being sentenced. In the case of a Buddhist monk, permission may also be granted to wear robes.
However, he stressed that any person sentenced to more than three years must be produced before court wearing clothing issued by the prison.
He also noted that more than 63 religious figures are currently serving sentences in prisons across the country, and such inmates are also required to wear prison clothing while in custody.
