The Cabinet of Ministers in Sri Lanka has approved an allocation of 150 million rupees for the e-Court project, which aims to digitalize the country’s judiciary system as a national priority. According to the government’s Cabinet Decisions document, the Supreme Court is currently implementing a website and an electronic case management system as the first phase of this digital transformation.
The e-Court Project plans to expand the website and electronic case management system developed for the Supreme Court to all courts across the island, including the Court of Appeal, the Judicial Service Commission, and the Institute of Judges. As part of the initiative, a national judicial data network will be established, with the goal of addressing longstanding issues such as case delays, lack of transparency, and procedural inefficiencies that have hindered timely access to justice.
The government stated that the implementation of this project aligns with the IMF’s reform agenda for the 2026-2030 Public Investment Program and the Clean Sri Lanka Strategy. The Cabinet has approved the allocation of 150 million rupees from the Clean Sri Lanka Project budget to the Judicial Service Commission to support the initiative.
Sri Lanka’s judiciary has struggled with chronic delays in legal proceedings, largely due to an overburdened system that relies on outdated manual processes, including paper-based filings, physical document handling, and in-person hearings. The lack of a comprehensive digital infrastructure—such as widespread e-filing, virtual court sessions, and integrated case management systems—has been a significant factor in the accumulation of a massive case backlog.
Recent reports indicate that, as of 2022, there were over a million pending cases, with thousands unresolved for five to ten years or more. Criminal cases have historically taken up to 17 years on average to reach a resolution. This lack of digitization has not only contributed to procedural bottlenecks, frequent adjournments, and resource limitations, but has also discouraged foreign investment by complicating contract enforcement and eroded public confidence in the efficiency of the justice system.
