Work on the new building designated to house the Drug Court and the Criminal Court is nearing completion, according to the Department of Judicial Administration (DJA). The department has confirmed plans to officially open the facility on Sunday.

The structure, named the Justice Building Annex, is located in front of Tree Top Hospital in Hulhumalé Phase 1. The site was previously used as a COVID-19 facility. The project is being overseen by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), which has released recent images indicating significant progress.

The DJA stated that the operations of the Drug Court and the Criminal Court will be entirely relocated to the new facility once it opens. The building will feature 10 courtrooms to serve 11 sections of the Criminal Court and five additional courtrooms designated for the Drug Court.

DJA has expressed that the opening of the Justice Building Annex will help address one of the most pressing issues in the criminal justice system: the lengthy backlog of criminal cases.