International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 11, Issue 6, June 2021 51 ISSN 2250-3153 This publication is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY. http://dx.doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.11.06.2021.p11409 www.ijsrp.org Issues in Vocational Training Programs for the Female Prison Inmates in Sri Lanka: Trainers’ Perspectives E M V O Ekanayake * , L A Pavithra Madhuwanthi ** * Department of Public Administration, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka DOI: 10.29322/IJSRP.11.06.2021.p11409 http://dx.doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.11.06.2021.p11409 Abstract- This study intends to explore the issues prevailing in the vocational training programs conducted for female prison inmates in Sri Lanka. This is a qualitative case study based on the vocational training programs conduct in two prisons in Sri Lanka. The study used semi-structured in-depth interviews which were conducted over the telephone with trainers who were engaged in providing vocational training programs for the female inmates in the two chosen prisons. Data collection was carried out during mid of 2020 and due to the Covid-19 pandemic, getting access to the trainers was highly restricted. Therefore, the study was limited to interview with only four trainers. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. The trainers emphasized four main issues that they could experience in conducting the vocational training programs for the female prison inmates as: the variety of programs to be accessed by the inmates, willingness of female prison inmates to participate in the vocational training programs, tendency of trained self-employed female prison ex-inmates getting re-imprisoned, and issues faced by the prison trainers themselves. Index Terms- Issues, Female prison inmates, Trainers, Vocational training programs I. INTRODUCTION ehabilitation of the prison inmates is a major concern drawn by sociologists, legal practitioners and different activities in recent times. The imprisonment seizes the inmates within the walls of the prisons. But they should be explored to the world and should be given the opportunities to develop their potential to reintegrate to the society outside the prison walls. Inmates need education and training programs that not only teach them to read and write but also provide them with the necessary skills that promote a positive transition to society when they are released [1]. The provisioning of vocational training programs for inmates is one initiative for rehabilitation of prison inmates which will greatly support for inmates to strengthen their economic and social conditions upon getting released from the prison. Also it will help them to spend a quality time in the prison though they have been seized to receive a punishment. In Sri Lankan context, the Department of Prisons conduct vocational trainings for the inmates. According to the performance report of Department of Prisons, Rs.3, 500, 000 was allocated for provisioning of vocational training for the prison inmates [2]. According to Kuruppu, there are wide variety of trainings are provided for the prisoners such as “carpentry, tailoring, laundry, motor mechanism, printing, bread making, weaving, knitting, masonry, soap making, mat making, brush making, polishing, tat making and the manufacture of coir goods for male inmates whilst the convicted female inmates are given training in various vocations such as tailoring, knitting, weaving and cookery” [3]. As in every other government program, the provisioning of vocational training programs for the inmates may also consists with its both efficiencies and inefficiencies. On one hand these programs may deliver effective output and on the other, there could be inefficiencies R