The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection has sought proposals from the Police Department on measures to address overcrowding in Sri Lankan prisons.The matter was discussed at a recent committee meeting held in Parliament under the chairmanship of Committee Chairman and MP Najith Indika.

The committee reviewed procedures followed by the Police Department from the arrest of suspects in drug-related cases to the filing of charges, as well as legal barriers affecting the process.Delays in concluding drug-related court cases and obtaining reports from the Government Analyst’s Department were also discussed. The committee noted that such delays contribute to an increase in the number of suspects being held in remand custody.The committee also stressed the need to make greater use of modern technology not only to apprehend individuals involved in drug offences, but also to identify and disrupt drug-trafficking networks and trace their illicit financial transactions.The committee called for measures to address procedural and legal delays that contribute to prolonged remand detention and prison overcrowding.