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The Government
Analysts department provides advisory and analytical services in the
fields of Forensic and food sciences to Law courts Law Enforcement
Agencies and other Government departments and state Institutions. The
department performs a vital role in the administration of the criminal
justice process and its work has a direct impact on the disposal of
criminal cases. Cabinet approval obtained to upgrade the Department to
an “A” Class department.
The department
carries out analysis and issue reports on productions and exhibits sent
by the Departments of Police, Customs, Excise, Health, Port Authority
and other government departments and institutions. Samples are also
examined for quality control and tariff calculations. Further,
questioned documents forwarded by relevant authorities are also examined
and reported. These are carried out under the authority granted by the
Criminal Procedure Code, Evidence, Excise, Customs and Factory
ordinances; Poisons, opium, Weapons Act, Port of Colombo
(Administration) Act, Cosmetics, Devices and Drugs Act, Food Act,
Fertilizers Act, etc.
MISSION STATEMENT
"Providing
Analytical, Advisory and Consultancy Services in the fields of Forensic
and Food Sciences to Low Courts, Law Enforcement Agencies and other
Institutions."
MAIN FUNCTIONS
It
is essentially a Service Department. It carries out analysis and issues
reports on productions sent by Courts, Police, Customs, Excise, Local
Bodies, Health Department and other Government Department and Statutory
Bodies.
Productions
includes various Food samples, Questioned Documents, Narcotics, Murder
Weapons, Explosives, Liquor, Poisons (Homicide and suicide) rape &
Murder using blunt and sharp cutting instruments.
The
scientific officers are called to serve in many Technical Evaluation
Committees, Tender Boards, Sectorial Committees and working groups.
Examination
of ships/tankers for the presence of flammable vapors
(Colombo Dockyard), analysis of liquors, Food samples and water
samples. Effluent samples sent from various private enterprises and
there by generating lot of income to the Government.
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The Government Analyst functions as “Approved Analyst” under the
Food Act and Cosmetic Devises Act for over 500 local bodies and as a “Referee
Analyst” under the Pesticides Act and Environment Protection Act.
Scientific officers of the department also visit scenes of crime,
whenever necessary and give expert testimony when called upon by courts
to defend reports issued by them.
The department
functions with 54 scientific officers. There are 22 vacancies to be
filed. Officers would be recruited once PSC approval is granted. Despite
twenty two (22) vacancies in the scientific Officer grade, the
department has responded to 14,584 of the 15,304 cases referred to it
between January to August, 2005. With the filling of all vacancies
output could be further increased.
The department's
functions are decentralized to outstations, namely Anuradhapura, Matara
and Badulla. The Anuradhapura Regional office is in operation. The
establishment of the DNA laboratory facility is being pursued.
The Cabinet
approved the Construction of a new laboratory Complex on the19th July
2000 and the Treasury allocated funds. However, the Development Permit
was not renewed by the Colombo Municipal Council and was informed that
the site of the department at Maitland Crescent has been earmarked for
the expansion of public open space and to look for an alternate
location. The UDA has identified alternate land for the construction of
the building at Battaramulla and the construction to commence in 2006.
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