Sri Lanka, Aug. 25 -- In a bid to ease severe prison congestion and eliminate judicial bottlenecks, lawmakers are pressing to establish a modern forensic laboratory directly under the Police Department to fast-track criminal investigations and court proceedings.

The proposal took centre stage at a meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection held in Parliament under the chairmanship of MP Dr. Najith Indika recently.

The committee focused heavily on streamlining procedures from initial arrest to indictment, particularly in drug-related offences, while dismantling legal hurdles causing systemic delays.

Extensive delays in receiving analytical reports from the Government Analyst's Department were...