during this session. In practice, the orientation conducted is oral and printed materials are not provided to prisoners. During inspections the Commission found that the orientation programme at MCP consists of power point presentations and includes: • • • • • • • An explanation of the daily schedule of an inmate Ward/cell opening and closing times Meal times Work hours The opportunities for religious worship, such as meditation programmes for Buddhists, Sunday Mass for Catholics, Islamic prayer sessions conducted by an Imam An explanation of the work carried out by the RC, Welfare, Rehabilitation, Discipline branches Information on the PH Further, information about the system of Home Leave, the entitlements for convicted prisoners and remandees, and the internal grievance mechanism is also provided. As depicted in the pictures below, certain prisons contain notices at the entrance that outline rules and regulations to be followed by inmates in prisons, as well respective sanctions for any misdemeanours committed in prison. At POPC and AOPC, no detailed orientation is conducted, which is reportedly due to the fact the prisoners who are admitted to the two camps are transferred from other prisons and not directly from courts, and thereby it is assumed they would already have participated in such a programme in another prison. However, this rationale does not rule out the necessity of an orientation programme as work camps adopt different policies to closed and remand prisons, and as indicated above, all institutions do not follow uniform processes and practices, which may differ based on the discretion of each SP. An inmate at KRP stated that the officers at the orientation programme had informed prisoners of the consequences of prisoners trying to escape, i.e. that they would be shot or their hands or legs would be broken. The digital database at WCP records whether or not a prisoner attended an orientation programme. The orientation programme, however, is conducted only in Sinhala, which would place non-Sinhala proficient inmates and foreign nationals, who arguably have a greater need for an orientation programme. Local and foreign inmates at NRP also stated that they were not provided any orientation and the only briefing they received was information provided by other inmates. An inmate from the Philippines, at CRP, stated that he was informed of prison rules by the kamara party. A Pakistani inmate in the same prison stated that he too was “informed of how to behave in the ward by a man who was shouting out instructions”. 66