Sri Lanka, Aug. 27 -- Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said yesterday that overcrowding in prisons will be reduced in a month or one and half months as the government has taken steps to expedite issuance of reports by the government Analyst Department.

The Minister told media after visiting Anuradhapura prison that some 23,000 prisoners connected to drug related charges are in remand prison due to delay in reports of the Government Analyst.

He said the government has recruited 70 officers to the Government Analyst Department and procured three analysis machines to expedite the issuance of reports.

The Minister said about 400 to 500 reports are being issued daily by the Government Analyst Department by now.

He said the government...