5. Introduction to the Prison System 1. The history of the DOP The prison system in Sri Lanka was established in the 19th century by the British. As the initial step of formalizing the system in the country, the British enacted "An Ordinance for the better regulation of Prisons Act No. 18 of 1844", which also established WCP as the first prison in Sri Lanka. The establishment of WCP was followed by MCP in 1875 and Bogambara Prison in 1876. The Prisons Ordinance No.16 of 1877 (hereinafter referred to as PO) and the Subsidiary Legislation under the Prisons Ordinance i.e. Statutory Rules (hereinafter referred to as SRs) provide for the administration of prisons and prisoners. The Departmental Standing Orders of 1956 (hereinafter referred to as DSO) provided the administrative framework for the prison staff to perform their functions. From 1918 to 1920 a system of classifying prisoners according to their age, gender and the frequency of conviction was instituted. The DOP functions with the stated objectives of custody, care and correction through rehabilitation. The DOP was established as a department, separate from the Police Department, on 16 July 1905 and is governed by the PO. It was within the purview of the Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs until May 2018, when it was placed within the purview of the Ministry of Justice and Prison Reforms (hereinafter referred to as MOJ). 2. Organizational hierarchy The DOP is headed by the Commissioner General of Prisons (hereinafter referred to as CGP), while an Additional CGP is available to cover up the duties of the CGP. There are five Commissioners in charge of the divisions of Administration/Intelligence and Security, Human Resources, Supply, Operations, Industries and Skills Development and Rehabilitation. 3. Institutions 3.1. Closed prisons There are four closed prisons9 under the DOP. Closed Prisons are prisons with a perimeter wall where prisoners are held under maximum security conditions. Closed prisons detain only convicted prisons. However, WCP is the only closed prison, which exclusively detains convicted prisons at present, because due to overcrowding the other closed prisons detain remandees as well. 9 Closed Prisons -Welikada, Mahara, Pallekele, Agunukolapelassa 29