A series of legal, administrative and institutional measures to address prison overcrowding, including amendments to the Prisons Ordinance, the rehabilitation of individuals with drug addiction and the expedited issuance of Government Analyst reports have been reviewed at the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection.

The matters were discussed at a meeting of the Committee held at the Parliament complex, under the chairmanship of Member of Parliament Dr. Najith Indika.

The Committee has been conducting a series of consultations with relevant sectors to examine the issue of prison overcrowding and identify appropriate measures to address the challenges facing the country's prison system, according to a statement issued by the Department of Communication of Parliament.

During the meeting, proposals aimed at improving prison management and reducing the inmate population were considered. These included proposed amendments to existing legislation, the establishment of open prisons and work camps, conditional release mechanisms and the provision of employment opportunities for inmates demonstrating good conduct.

Particular attention was also given to strengthening arrangements for referring individuals with drug addiction to rehabilitation centres, rather than subjecting them to imprisonment, where appropriate.

The Committee further examined measures being implemented to reduce the backlog of reports at the Government Analyst's Department. These included increasing staffing capacity, improving transport facilities and expanding overtime services to accelerate the completion and issuance of reports.

The discussions also focused on the legal and administrative reforms required to address prison overcrowding, with emphasis on expediting the implementation of proposed measures through effective institutional coordination.

The Committee reviewed the need for coordinated action between the Ministry of Justice and National Integration and the Department of Prisons to advance the proposed reforms and address the prevailing challenges within the prison system, the Department of Communication added.