The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection has sought the views and proposals of Sri Lanka Police on measures to reduce overcrowding in the country’s prisons, with particular attention given to drug-related cases.

The matter was discussed at a committee meeting held in Parliament under the chairmanship of Parliamentarian Dr. Najith Indika.

The committee examined the Police Department procedures from the arrest of suspects in connection with drug-related offences through to the filing of cases, while also considering legal barriers that may be contributing to delays in the process.

Particular attention was given to delays in proceedings involving drug-related cases and delays in obtaining reports from the Government Analyst’s Department, which were identified as factors contributing to the increasing number of suspects being held in remand custody, according to a statement issued by the Department of Communication of Parliament.

Committee members had stressed that efforts to combat drug-related crime should extend beyond arresting individual suspects and include the use of modern technology to identify and dismantle drug-trafficking networks and their associated illegal financial transactions.

The committee also highlighted the need for appropriate regulatory mechanisms to prevent drug traffickers from misusing digital money-transfer systems operated by telecommunications companies for illicit financial transactions.

The need to expand community-based rehabilitation programmes as an alternative to imprisonment for persons addicted to drugs was also discussed.

Members further called for greater public participation in crime prevention and amendments to existing legislation to ensure that laws remain aligned with current requirements.

The committee also discussed establishing 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 the number of people held in remand custody and ease pressure on the prison system.

The welfare of police officers was also discussed, including measures to improve their working conditions, strengthen professional training and investigative capabilities, and enhance mechanisms for evaluating police performance, the Department of Communication of Parliament added further.