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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. II., PART II. 



PRISON DISCIPLINE IN CEYLON. 

 By A. G. Green, Esq. 



{Read December 1, 1849.) 



Although this paper only relates to one prison, — the 

 Welikada Jail, — yet inasmuch as it treats of the sole 

 place where any systematic mode of punishment and train- 

 ing has been carried out, it may truly be said to combine 

 the whole Prison Discipline of the Island. 



Previous to the erection of this prison, the want of a 

 regular and systematic mode of treating criminals had been 

 long felt and confessed on all sides— the imprisonment 

 and labour in those days were of a most unsatisfactory 

 nature ; nothing like security of the prisoners, or real labour 

 at their hands was ever attained. They appear to have 

 preferred an imprisonment which offered them better lodg- 

 ing, food, and clothing than they could attain in their usual 

 mode of life, with quite as little labour, and from which they 

 could escape, whenever it suited them so to do. 



This state of things had not escaped the attention 

 of Government, and accordingly proper representations 

 having been made to the home authorities by the then 

 Governor, Mr. Stewart Mackenzie, it was determined to 

 erect a suitable prison which should be placed under new 

 and efficient management. 



In 1841, Sir Colin Campbell being then Governor, the 

 present building was commenced by the Civil Engineer, 

 with the artificers of his department, assisted by a number 

 of the prisoners from the old jail. In 1843, a sufficient 

 extent of accommodation was completed to enable the 

 authorities to place eighty prisoners within its walls, and who 



