Faster analyst reports cut remand prison population by more than 5,000

Sri Lanka’s remand prison population fell by more than 5,000 between July and September after the Government Analyst’s Department accelerated the processing of backlogged reports, the Ministry of Justice said.

The Department issued 17,506 reports in August and September, most relating to cases pending since 2025, helping reduce the number of remand inmates from 41,993 on 1 July to 36,925 by 30 September.

A Ministry official said some suspects released as a result of the expedited process had been held in custody for more than one and a half years.

The Government Analyst’s Department is expected to maintain the same pace and issue another 8,000 reports by the end of this month, with the government aiming to reduce the number of suspects held in prison to 30,000.

The Ministry said the Department also expects to clear samples received up to the end of April this year, which would further reduce prison overcrowding and the length of time suspects spend in remand custody.

Several measures have been introduced to increase the Department’s capacity.

Fifty Chemistry graduates were recruited from 31 July on one-year contracts to carry out drug testing, while another 22 permanent vacancies have also been filled.

A temporary laboratory has been established to accommodate the new recruits, while existing staff will work additional shifts until January next year to reduce the backlog.

The number of drug-testing machines has also been increased from six to nine.

The Ministry is also moving to revise the approved cadre of the Government Analyst’s Department to 131 employees and is seeking Public Service Commission approval for the relevant Scheme of Recruitment.