Sri Lanka to exchange prisoners with four countries

Colombo, June 5 (IANS) Sri Lanka has signed prisoner exchange agreements with four countries, including India and Pakistan, and will start its implementation by sending back 22 Pakistanis detained in the island nation, an official said Tuesday.

Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera said Memorandums of Understanding have also been signed with the Maldives and Britain, Xinhua reported.

"As the first phase of the exchange, Sri Lanka will release 22 prisoners from Pakistan. They will be returned step by step once the papers are processed. Regulations call for the prisoners to be sent back two at a time that is how we will proceed," he said.

Sri Lanka will also open its largest prison this month in Pallekele, around 130 km from Colombo, which will house over 3,000 inmates, according to the prison reforms ministry.