The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera

Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera expressed support for the Judicature (Amendment) Bill while noting that maritime drug interdictions predate the current government. He raised concerns about prison overcrowding, attributing it largely to remand prisoners on drug-related charges being held for extended periods due to delays in obtaining advice from the Attorney General's Department and reports from the Government Analyst, and called for procedures to expedite both processes. He also urged the Minister to pursue a Cabinet-backed amendment to retroactively extend the sentencing relief introduced by Hon. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, which currently allows prospective reduction of sentences to account for time served during appeal but excludes those who appealed prior to the amendment's enactment.