Govt. moves to speed up Analyst’s reports amid prison overcrowding
The Government has taken measures to expedite the issuance of Government Analyst’s reports, which have been identified as one of the factors contributing to overcrowding in prisons, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara told Parliament on Thursday (22). The Minister said 1,506 Government Analyst’s reports had been issued during August and September following measures to strengthen the […]
The Government has implemented measures to accelerate the production of Government Analyst’s reports, a factor contributing to prison overcrowding, according to Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara during a parliamentary session on Thursday, August 22. In August and September, 1,506 such reports were issued following initiatives to bolster the Department’s staff and fill vacant positions.
Nanayakkara explained that delays in receiving these reports had led to prolonged detention of suspects and accused individuals, exacerbating the issue of prison overcrowding. Proposed legal amendments would necessitate Government Analysts to submit reports within two months of receiving materials for examination, he added. The prison population has notably decreased, dropping from 41,993 inmates on July 1 to 36,925 by September 30, marking a reduction of 5,068 individuals.
Nanayakkara also discussed amendments to regulations regarding narcotics seized as evidence in criminal cases. The proposed changes would enable authorities to discard entire consignments of confiscated narcotics after photographing or video-recording them, provided the relevant Magistrate authorizes destruction, all while ensuring adherence to legal procedures and protecting suspects' and accused persons' rights to a fair trial.
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