Prison Reform

The first JVP Insurrection was in 1971 and it was unsuccessful at the eleventh hour. Most of the young people – insurgents - who were caught were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment and Charles Dayananda a 22 year old artist was among them. He managed to secretly paint 30 pictures – keep them hidden – and bring them out of Jail when he was released. 

The Insurrection is now history and it is time for these paintings hidden for 42 years to be presented to society along with the fact, perceptions, thoughts and ideas that they represent.

Charles Dayananda hopes that there would be discussion on the widespread, long term transformation (see blogpost on ‘Reflections behind bars’ )

Apart from that he hopes that the integration of these paintings and what they represent would lead to conversations around what short term actions may be relevant for prisoners today.

a)     Should it not be a current need not only to throw a criminal or a political prisoner into jail but to implement a positive process where his mental and physical rehabilitation and development happens during his life inside the prison?

b)    If so, what is Society doing about it? Apart from the Government, it is also the responsibility of Civil Society to be involved in ensuring that such processes take place and conversations around these issues should be created.

c)     In order to develop the mental well being of the prisoner, training programs and discussion forums, vocational training, encouragement of aesthetic expressions should be part of their prison experience.

The exhibition should not and will not be just about “Art” but a discussion starter but deep conversations leading to concrete action to ensure that “Jail” achieves its objective of producing good citizens for Sri Lanka.