Sri Lanka vows no leniency for drug dealers as 9,081 analyst reports issued in August 2026

Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said today (September 1) that the Sri Lankan government would show no leniency to drug dealers, while 9,081 Government Analyst reports were issued during August 2026 as part of efforts to reduce case delays.

The Minister made the remarks during a discussion held at the Mahara Prison premises on establishing an emergency response mechanism for unrest inside prisons and improving inmate welfare.

Nanayakkara said delays in issuing Government Analyst reports had become a serious problem and that steps had been taken to speed up the process.

He said the Government Analyst’s Department had made necessary recruitments and that officers were working until around 10.00 p.m. to complete reports more quickly.

According to the Minister, 9,081 Government Analyst reports were issued during August alone, while the government aims to clear all currently pending reports within the next two months.

He also said 500 Government Analyst reports relating to Mahara Prison were issued during the past month.

The Minister said the government had brought major changes to the country, including changes to the political culture, and that it had received a public mandate to eliminate fraud and corruption.

He claimed that an unofficial relationship had existed between governments and the underworld since 1980 and that people benefiting from underworld activities could be present in different sectors.

Nanayakkara also said drug seizures were now being made under the present government in cases where such quantities had not been seized under previous governments.

Referring to recent unrest in prisons, the Minister said changes to the previous system had led to attempts to create conflict within prisons.

He said there could be a small number of prison officers involved in corrupt activities, but added that their actions had created a negative public impression of the wider prison service.

The Minister said the recent incident at Mahara Prison appeared to have had an organised element, while investigations into the incident were continuing.

He also alleged that some opposition political parties were unable to operate effectively and claimed that prisons were the only place where they could attempt to create a crisis.

Nanayakkara said the current government had allowed public servants to carry out their duties without political interference and had taken steps to provide funding to improve facilities in the prison system.

He said measures would also be taken through the next Budget to provide scanning machines to all prisons.

The Minister said not everyone in prison should be treated as a criminal for life, adding that some people had been convicted over mistakes made at a particular point in their lives and should be given a second chance.

He said several incidents had occurred in prisons in the recent past and that the Police, Special Task Force, three armed forces and other relevant agencies had provided assistance on those occasions.

However, he said a stronger mechanism was needed to respond effectively if similar situations occurred again.

According to the Minister, such emergency response mechanisms have already been established at 15 prisons.

He said the system is intended to identify possible incidents before they occur and take action to prevent or control them.

The joint mechanism is also aimed at maintaining regional coordination during prison emergencies and improving arrangements for the welfare of inmates.

During his visit, Nanayakkara inspected several areas damaged by fires allegedly started by inmates during the recent incident at Mahara Prison.

The damaged locations included the Chief Jailor’s Office, Rehabilitation Section, Knitting Section and Weaving Section.

The Minister also inspected prison operations and met inmates being held on remand.

Addressing the inmates, Nanayakkara urged them not to become involved in drug-related offences after being released and asked them to work towards becoming responsible members of society.

However, he said the government was not prepared to show any leniency to people involved in selling drugs.

He also told the inmates that they were part of the country’s workforce and had a responsibility to contribute to Sri Lanka’s future progress.

Mahara Prison Superintendent Rohana Galappaththi, Deputy Inspector General of Police Kavinga Jayasinghe, Officer-in-Charge of Security Zone II Commander G.A.P.S.K. Ranasinghe, Gampaha Additional District Secretary Asiri Weerasekara and Mahara Divisional Secretary Lalith Bandara attended the discussion.

Senior officials representing the Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Navy, Ceylon Electricity Board, Fire Brigade, Sri Lanka Police and other state institutions also participated.