Sri Lanka Parliament committee discusses measures to reduce prison overcrowding

Sri Lanka Parliament’s Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection has discussed measures to reduce prison overcrowding, with particular attention to delays in drug-related cases and the large number of suspects being held in remand custody.

The discussion was held at a recent committee meeting in Parliament chaired by MP Dr. Najith Indika, with officials of the Police Department presenting their views and proposals.

The committee examined procedures followed by the Police Department from the arrest of suspects over drug-related offences until cases are filed in court, as well as legal obstacles affecting these processes.

Attention was also drawn to delays in drug-related court proceedings and delays in receiving reports from the Government Analyst. The committee noted that these delays contribute to an increase in the number of suspects being kept in remand custody.

During the meeting, it was stressed that efforts to combat drug-related offences should go beyond arresting individuals. Modern technology should also be used to identify and control drug-trafficking networks and trace illegal financial transactions linked to them.

The need to introduce suitable regulatory measures to prevent drug traffickers from misusing digital money-transfer systems operated by telecommunications companies for illegal transactions was also highlighted.

The committee discussed strengthening community-based rehabilitation programmes as an alternative to imprisonment for people addicted to drugs. It also considered increasing public participation in crime prevention and amending existing laws to meet current requirements.

Members also discussed the need to establish a modern forensic laboratory within the Police Department to speed up criminal investigations.

It was pointed out that faster analysis of scientific evidence could help accelerate court proceedings and, in turn, contribute to reducing prison overcrowding.

The meeting also focused on improving the welfare of police officers, strengthening their professional training and investigative skills, and improving mechanisms used to evaluate police performance.

Committee members Ajith P. Perera, G.G. Ponnambalam, Mujibur Rahman, M.K.M. Aslam, Dr. Sellathamby Thilakanathan, Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, Chandana Suriyaarachchi, and Major General (Retired) G.D. Sooriyabandara attended the meeting.

Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs D.W.R.B. Seneviratne, Inspector General of Police Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasuriya, and several senior officers of the Police Department were also present.