17,506 drug-related Government Analyst reports issued in two months
– Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said 17,506 Government Analyst reports related to drug cases had been issued during August and September as part of measures to reduce overcrowding in prisons.Speaking today (1) at the establishment of an integrated mechanism at the Kuruwita Prison, the Minister said 9,061 drug-related reports were issued in August and a further 8,445 in September.He said steps had been taken to expedite the issuance of Government Analyst reports and amend relevant legislation as part of efforts to address prison overcrowding.The Minister said incidents reported in prisons in recent times had not occurred spontaneously, with some attributed to external influences and others to internal factors.
He said resistance was inevitable when attempting to change a system that had existed in the country for 30 or 40 years, but stressed that reforms must continue despite such resistance. Nanayakkara said misconduct by a small number of prison officers should not result in the entire prison service being subjected to allegations. He also stressed the importance of protecting the welfare and dignity of inmates.“The principle that ‘Prisoners are also human beings’ should not remain merely a statement displayed on prison walls,” he said, adding that greater attention to inmate welfare could help reduce many problems within prisons.The Minister further said new procedures would be introduced without allowing remnants of what he described as the old corrupt system to continue.He also met remand prisoners and prison officers at Kuruwita Prison to discuss issues they face and briefed inmates on measures being taken to enable persons remanded in connection with drug-related offences to obtain bail.
The integrated mechanism was established to coordinate government institutions at the regional level in responding to emergencies in prisons and to streamline welfare activities for inmates.Officials from the Police, Department of Prisons, National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Fire Brigade, Ceylon Electricity Board and other government institutions participated in the program.