Sri Lanka's Justice Minister announced plans to amend legislation allowing suspects in certain drug cases to seek bail from the High Court rather than the Court of Appeal, addressing lengthy delays in the bail process.
The Ministry of Justice and National Integration has committed to legislative amendments that would permit individuals accused of specific drug-related offences to apply for bail at the High Court level, according to Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara. The proposed change aims to address significant backlogs in the bail system, where cases involving drugs exceeding 10 grams in net weight are currently directed to the Court of Appeal, creating extended delays for prisoners awaiting trial.
A critical factor contributing to bail delays has been the backlog at the Government Analyst's Department, which produces reports essential for bail proceedings. The Minister identified that the department had 118 vacant positions, resulting in some inmates remaining in remand custody for nearly a year awaiting analysis reports. To resolve this bottleneck, authorities have recruited approximately 70 additional staff members and plan to introduce new equipment this month. These measures are expected to increase the department's monthly output to between 7,500 and 9,000 reports.
The Minister's comments were issued in response to recent incidents at multiple prisons nationwide and came alongside appeals to inmates and their families to remain patient as reforms are implemented. Minister Nanayakkara acknowledged that prisoner concerns about bail delays had been consistently raised over the past year and stated the Government is simultaneously working to improve prison facilities and reduce overcrowding. He cautioned against allowing external influences to provoke unrest, warning that infrastructure damage ultimately harms the inmates themselves.
