President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held discussions with the Justice Ministry on Tuesday to assess progress of ongoing projects and plan priorities for the 2027 Budget, with emphasis on improving court infrastructure, prison modernisation, and strengthening forensic capabilities.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake chaired a pre-Budget discussion at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday focused on the Ministry of Justice and National Integration's 2026 performance and 2027 priorities. The meeting examined both physical and financial progress across multiple departments and affiliated institutions, with particular emphasis on delivering timely justice through improved infrastructure and modernised systems.
Court infrastructure development emerged as a central priority. Officials updated the President on progress of major projects including the Colombo High Court Complex, Aluthkade Court Complex, and new court facilities in Galle, Matale and Kantale. The government also reviewed the proposed construction of official residences for judges, a project that was halted following the 2022 economic crisis. Additionally, the Legal Draftsman's Department is slated for capacity strengthening through expanded staffing and technological improvements.
The Government Analyst's Department received significant attention, with plans to increase its monthly analytical reporting capacity to 9,000 reports. The President instructed officials to relocate the department to more suitable premises with enhanced facilities. Meanwhile, the Department of Prisons, which received the largest capital allocation of Rs. 5.627 billion under the Ministry, will use funds for renovations, modern equipment procurement, vehicle acquisition and software development, alongside improved welfare facilities for prison officers.
The discussion also addressed systemic improvements, including consolidating rehabilitation programmes currently run by multiple institutions under a single coordinating authority. The President directed officials to develop specialised procurement frameworks for sectors including digital services, healthcare and defence, citing limitations in the current procurement system. Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara and other senior officials participated in the meeting.
