The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has instructed all magistrates to take necessary measures to remove drug samples weighing less than one kilogram that have accumulated at the Government Analyst’s Department over the years.
The directive follows a request made by President’s Counsel Ayesha Jinasena, Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration, highlighting a long-standing storage issue at the department.
According to the Ministry of Justice, a report covering narcotics samples weighing under one kilogram — which have already been tested and submitted between 1981 and 2023 — was forwarded to the JSC for further action.
Although the testing of these samples has been completed, they continue to be stored at the Government Analyst’s Department, causing a severe shortage of space and hindering proper storage of new exhibits, the Ministry noted.
Responding to the Ministry’s appeal, the JSC has issued written instructions to all magistrates to take immediate steps to remove the examined narcotic samples from the department to ease congestion and improve storage efficiency.
