A pre-Budget discussion on the progress of projects implemented under the 2026 Budget allocations for the Ministry of Justice and National Integration, together with proposals for the 2027 Budget, was held this afternoon (4) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The meeting reviewed the physical and financial progress of projects implemented in 2026 by the Ministry's principal departments, statutory bodies and affiliated institutions, while also examining future plans and proposals for the 2027 Budget. PMD reported.
Particular attention was given to the development of judicial infrastructure. President Dissanayake emphasised that the Government's objective is to establish a judicial system capable of delivering timely justice to the public, stressing that this requires the accelerated development of court infrastructure across the country.
Accordingly, the meeting reviewed the progress of several major construction projects, including the Colombo High Court Complex, the Ministry of Justice building, the Aluthkade Court Complex, and new court complexes in Galle, Matale and Kantale.
The discussion also focused on the project to construct official residences for judges, which was suspended following the 2022 economic crisis.
The meeting further reviewed the progress of projects being implemented by the Attorney General's Department under a capital allocation of Rs. 79 million, as well as projects undertaken by the Legal Draftsman's Department with an allocation of Rs. 38 million.
Special attention was given to enhancing the capacity and efficiency of the Legal Draftsman's Department, which has been entrusted with an increasingly important role. Discussions focused on strengthening its human resources and improving its technological capabilities.
The Government Analyst's Department was also a key focus of the discussion. Officials noted that projects are currently being implemented under an allocation of Rs. 635 million, which may increase to Rs. 701 million.
It was further noted that laboratory equipment required by the Government Analyst's Department is expected to be received during August. Plans to increase the Department's monthly analytical reporting capacity to 9,000 reports were also reviewed.
The President instructed the relevant authorities to make the necessary arrangements to relocate the Government Analyst's Department to more suitable premises equipped with the facilities required for its operations.
Under the 2026 Budget, the largest capital allocation within the Ministry of Justice and National Integration has been made to the Department of Prisons. Accordingly, the meeting reviewed the progress of projects being implemented under a capital allocation of Rs. 5,627 million, including building renovations, the procurement of modern technological equipment and vehicles and the development of software systems. Discussions also focused on further improving facilities and welfare for prison officers.
Attention was also given to filling vacancies in the engineering sector through contract-based recruitment.
The financial progress of projects implemented by the Department of Community-Based Corrections was also reviewed. In addition, the meeting explored the possibility of integrating rehabilitation programmes currently administered by several institutions, including the Police, the Ministry of Health and the Department of Social Services, under a single coordinating authority.
The meeting also reviewed the activities of several institutions under the Ministry, including the Mediation Boards Commission, the Secretariat of the Judicial Service Commission, the Office on Missing Persons, the Office for Reparations and the Official Languages Commission.
Special attention was also paid to the Government procurement process. Acknowledging the complexities of the existing system, President Dissanayake stated that instructions had already been issued to develop separate procurement frameworks for specialised sectors such as digital services, healthcare and defence.
Among those present were Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando, Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Chief of Staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration Ayesha Jinaseena and officials from the Ministries of Finance and Justice and National Integration.
