Sri Lanka’s long-delayed judicial reforms have once again come into focus with the Cabinet of Ministers approving the implementation of the e-Court Project, a flagship initiative aimed at digitising the country’s judicial system. The Cabinet has sanctioned Rs. 150 million from allocations under the Clean Sri Lanka Project to be channelled to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), signalling political backing for what the government describes as a national priority.
The initiative follows the launch of a dedicated Supreme Court website and an electronic Case Management System (e-CMS) during the first phase of judicial digitalisation. Authorities now plan to replicate this model across all courts islandwide, including the Court of Appeal, the JSC, and the Institute of Judges, eventually creating a national judicial data network.
According to Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, the digital overhaul is expected to address chronic problems such as case backlogs, lack of transparency, procedural inefficiencies, and prolonged delays that have eroded public confidence in the justice system. The project also aligns with the IMF Reform Agenda 2026–2030 Public Investment Programme and the broader Clean Sri Lanka Strategy.
Justice Ministry sources say Sri Lanka is exploring paperless court operations as a remedy for excessive delays that often force litigants to travel long distances merely to learn the next hearing date. Under the proposed e-Court system, judges, lawyers and litigants would be able to file documents electronically, submit evidence digitally and, in certain circumstances, participate in hearings remotely.
An e-Court is defined as a court environment supported by advanced technical infrastructure, allowing administrative and procedural functions to be carried out electronically. Features such as electronic filing, digital record-keeping, and remote testimony are expected to reduce inefficiencies while improving access to justice.
A senior telecommunications expert with extensive national and international experience noted that e-Court services could modernise judicial administration in line with global technological standards.
He further argued that the involvement of lay judges through digital platforms could help create a multidisciplinary knowledge base, supporting more transparent and higher-quality judicial outcomes.
Justice Ministry officials also highlight the potential of e-Court services to reduce unproductive commuting, especially in traffic-congested urban centres. Many litigants currently attend court simply to be informed of new dates, a practice the digital system seeks to eliminate.
However, the scale of the challenge remains significant. Attorney General’s Department sources reveal that a large number of cases remain unresolved, while the overall backlog stands at thosands of cases, including over 100 highly controversial matters.
While special courts have been tasked with fast-tracking hearings, observers caution that without comprehensive implementation, adequate training, and system-wide accountability, digitisation alone may not deliver the justice revolution being promised
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