Good behaviour earns Arjun Aloysius early release from prison

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

Arjun Aloysius, Director of W.M. Mendis Distilleries, and two others, who were serving a jail term for defaulting on a payment of Rs. 3.5 billion in Value Added Tax (VAT) by the company, were released from prison two months early based on their good behaviour within the prison.  

Prisons Spokesman Gamini Dissanayake confirmed that they were released from the Welikada Prison on Saturday.  

In October of last year, the trio were sentenced to a six-month jail term by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court for failing to pay the VAT amounting to Rs. 3.5 billion.  

The spokesman said that prisoners can earn points based on their conduct and active participation in work programmes within the prison. These points contribute to reducing their sentence by one third.  

As a result, Arjun Aloysius and the others were released two months early.  

However, the spokesman clarified that the 3/1 good behaviour rule, which allows prisoners to reduce their sentences through good conduct and participation in prison work programmes, applies only to those sentenced to fixed jail terms and not to those serving life sentences.