COLOMBO, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka will reduce delays in issuing forensic reports to three months by Jan. 31, 2027, Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said on Friday.
The minister made the remarks during an inspection visit to the Department of Government Analyst, the country's central forensics laboratory under the Ministry of Justice and National Integration, where he reviewed progress in processing reports related to narcotic substances.
It took about approximately 18 months to issue a report when the current Sri Lankan administration came to power in late 2024.
Officials told the minister that they had cleared reports on narcotic samples weighing less than 5 grams, received up to August 2026. Work on the remaining cases had been accelerated.
Nanayakkara said faster issuance of analyst reports was important for speeding up court proceedings and reducing prison overcrowding.
He said staff shortages and limited facilities had previously contributed to delays. Measures introduced to address the problem include filling vacancies, upgrading facilities and providing allowances to employees working night shifts. ■