In a historic step towards building a modern, transparent, and citizen-focused judiciary, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Judicial Service Commission and the Ministry of Justice, officially launched the “e-Courts” Project, featuring a state-of-the-art Web Portal and an integrated e-Case Management System for all Court Houses.
The ceremonial launch took place at the Sri Lanka Judges’ Institute Auditorium under the distinguished patronage of His Lordship Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, and was graced by Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Minister of Justice and National Integration, Hon. Eranga Weerarathna, Deputy Minister – Ministry of Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijesuriya, Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy; Honourable Parinda Ranasinghe PC, Attorney General; Honourable S. Thuraijara PC, Judge of the Supreme Court/ Member of Judicial Service Commission; Honourable Mahinda Samayawardena, Judge of the Supreme Court/ Member of Judicial Service Commission; Honourable Ayesha Jinasena PC, Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration; Mr. Rajeev Amarasuriya President, Bar Association of Sri Lanka and a distinguished gathering of members of the judiciary; legal professionals, and dignitaries.
Welcoming the guests, Judge. Aravinda Gunaratne, Registrar of the Supreme Court/Magistrate, noted that the system had been designed and developed in just a few months for the Supreme Court, and emphasized the wide-ranging benefits it brings to litigants, judges, attorneys-at-law, and court staff.
Addressing the gathering, His Lordship Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena highlighted the judiciary’s responsibility to the people in enhancing efficiency, transparency, and accessibility. His Lordship reiterated that the rapid digitalization of the court system is a priority project in fulfilling the obligations entrusted to the judiciary by the general public.
In his keynote speech, Dr. Hans Wijesuriya underscored the importance of the initiative in advancing Sri Lanka’s broader digital economy goals through a more effective justice sector.
The e-Courts Project is an integrated digital system that connects all courts nationwide—from rural Magistrates’ Courts to the Supreme Court providing seamless access to information for judges, attorneys-at-law, court staff, and the public. Key features include real-time daily case lists, live case status updates, downloadable judgments and journal entries, online issuance of certified copies, web-based case management and scheduling, publicly accessible judicial statistics, and enhanced online services for attorneys-at-law. Importantly, the system also introduces online payment facilities to minimize delays and strengthen transparency.
Looking to the future, the platform provides the foundation for further advancements such as e-filing, virtual hearings, and digital document management, representing a strategic shift in the delivery of justice in Sri Lanka.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Rajeev Amarasuriya, President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Bar and the Bench to eliminate inefficiencies through digital solutions and ensure the success of this transformative initiative.
This project is part of a broader national program supported by the Government of Sri Lanka to digitalize the judiciary at all levels, ushering in a new era of efficiency, accountability, and accessibility from Magistrates’ Courts to the Supreme Court.
Caption: Launch of Supreme Court Website (L-R) Mr. Achinthya Nath Welideniya – Registrar Information Technology of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka; Hon. Preethi Padman Surasena – Chief Justice of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka; Hon. S. Thuraijara PC – Judge of the Supreme Court/ Member of Judicial Service Commission; and Hon. Mahinda Samayawardena – Judge of the Supreme Court/ Member of Judicial Service Commission
