Over 45 new offenders or drug users imprisoned monthly, study reveals

A monthly loss of 40,000 individuals from the national workforce   

Imprisonment of these individuals has a ripple effect on their families

A recent study into criminal behaviour has revealed that an estimated 45 individuals are imprisoned each month in Sri Lanka as either first-time offenders or drug users, according to Dhammika Bandara, a criminology expert and external lecturer at the Sri Lanka Police Academy.   

He noted that this ongoing trend leads to a significant economic loss for the country, with around 40,000 potential contributors to the national workforce being removed each month due to incarceration.

Speaking to the media, Bandara emphasized that monitoring the activities of just one identified criminal requires the involvement of up to 47 law enforcement officers, based on current records of active criminals in the country.   

He further pointed out that the imprisonment of these individuals has a ripple effect on their families. In many cases, wives or female family members are forced into illegal or risky income-generating activities due to financial hardship, ultimately placing a greater burden on the state.