Prof. G. L. Peiris honoured by International Institute of Rehabilitation

The picture shows Prof. G.L. Peiris being honoured with an award of appreciation by academic colleagues at an awards presentation ceremony of the International Institute of Rehabilitation

Prof. G.L. Peiris was honoured with an award of appreciation by academic colleagues at an awards presentation ceremony of the International Institute of Rehabilitation last week.

Felicitating Prof. Peiris at the event were Senior Lecturer Ravindra Samarawickrama, Chairman of the International Organisation for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation Director Nilantha Kotikawatte and Senior Lecturer Udaya Kumara Amarasingha, Head of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

Prof. Peiris, as chief guest, in his keynote address, dealt with the special relevance of rehabilitation at this time. He stated: “The traditional criminal law makes provision for punishment after a crime has been committed, and punishment usually takes the form of a prison sentence. It is even more important, however, to explore practical means of prevention and also to have recourse to a custodial sentence as a last resort rather than as the typical response.

“The modern approach is that punishment is seen not as retributive but as a means of rehabilitating the offender in society. Prison sentences, bringing a first offender into the prison environment and association with habitual offenders, carries the risk of recidivism, the available statistics indicating the likelihood of return to prison on repeated occasions”.

He placed emphasis on the importance of informed social attitudes to ensure that an offender does not carry a permanent stigma, reducing his opportunities for employment and acceptance in society. He stressed the importance of religious instruction in early childhood, and the close connection between temple and village.