Category: Legal
Supreme Court held its first-ever paperless hearing; leads digital transformation with e-Filing initiative
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has marked a significant milestone in its digital transformation with the implementation of its e-Filing Portal under the e-Courts Project. This initiative reflects the Court’s ongoing commitment to modernizing Judicial processes and enhancing the delivery of Justice through the use of technology. The e-Filing Portal was officially opened to […]
Rs. 952 Million Recovered from Decades-Old Court Productions in Landmark Cleanup
For decades, Magistrates’ Courts and High Courts across Sri Lanka were overwhelmed with vast quantities of case productions, items seized by the police and other government authorities in connection with legal proceedings. Once taken into custody, these items were invariably handed over to the courts, which were then responsible for their safekeeping. The range of […]
Advocata Institute Highlights Regulatory Barrier Limiting Women’s Overtime Earnings
Advocata Institute says that, a regulatory barrier prevents Sri Lankan women achieving pay parity with their male counterparts despite recent legislative amendments have opened doors for women to work night shifts. Despite the 2024 and 2026 liberalizations of the Shop and Office Employees Act (SOEA), which allowed women over 18 to work night shifts in […]
Sri Lanka’s Proposed Counterterrorism Law Risks More Abuses: Human Rights Watch
The Sri Lanka government’s proposed counterterrorism legislation includes numerous provisions similar to the current abusive law and risks facilitating the same kind of repression, Human Rights Watch said today. The bill does not meet benchmarks set out by the United Nations counterterrorism expert or comply with human rights obligations and commitments that Sri Lanka made […]
First-Ever Digital Signature Introduced for President’s Counsel Oath Ceremony
In a groundbreaking step toward digital transformation, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today introduced the Digital Signature for the President’s Counsel Oath Ceremony marking the first-ever use of this technology in the history of Sri Lanka’s Judiciary. Traditionally, this process was carried out manually, making 2025.11.20th achievement a historic milestone. This advancement reflects the […]
Ceylon Chamber Submits Recommendations to Strengthen Draft Public-Private Partnership Bill
The Ceylon Chamber commends the Government’s effort to introduce a legislative framework for PPPs through the Draft Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Bill, which is a requisite precursor to enhancing Sri Lanka’s ability to attract private investment in infrastructure and service delivery. Amidst a tight fiscal environment for the Government, we believe PPPs will be conducive for […]
Sri Lanka’s CIABOC Chairman Meets World Bank Officials on Strengthening Asset Recovery Framework
The Chairman of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) of Sri Lanka, Justice Neil Iddawala, met today with Laura Pop, Neha Maryam Zaigham, and Emile van der Does de Willebois of the World Bank at the UN Secretariat in Vienna (MOE 100). The discussions focused on the effective implementation of Sri […]
Trial by Media: Bar Association of Sri Lanka Condemns YouTuber Predictions on Case Outcomes
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has issued a statement on August 25, 2025, regarding comments made on social media and other platforms about matters within the purview of the Judicial Service Commission and the Judiciary, which are both Independent Institutions. The Judicial Service Commission is a Commission consisting of the Chief Justice and […]
Beneficial Ownership Law Enacted with TISL’s Amendments for Enhanced Transparency & Accountability
The Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, endorsed the certificate on the Companies (Amendment) Bill on 04 August and accordingly, the Companies (Amendment) Act No. 12 of 2025 is now enacted. Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) welcomes the constructive response of the Attorney General to the concerns raised in TISL’s petition filed in the Supreme Court challenging […]
Supreme Court Holds State and Corporate Actors Accountable in X-Press Pearl Disaster and Aftermath
In a landmark judgment the Supreme Court today (July 24) delivered its judgment in Fundamental Rights petitions in relation to the X-Press Pearl maritime disaster, one of the worst environmental disasters in Sri Lanka’s history. TISL filed the intervention petition to intervene in case no. SC/FR 168/2021, filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice seeking […]
Transparency International Sri Lanka Challenges the National Audit (Amendment) Bill
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) filed legal action on Tuesday 22 July 2025, in the Supreme Court challenging the National Audit (Amendment) Bill which was published in the gazette on 23rd June 2025. The Bill is to amend the National Audit Act No. 19 of 2018. The petition has been filed in public interest. The […]
TISL expresses deep concern over the inertia in appointing the Chairperson of the RTI Commission
As of July 9, 2025, Sri Lanka’s Right to Information (RTI) remains without a duly appointed Chairperson. The seat has been vacant since the resignation of retired Supreme Court Justice Upaly Abeyrathne in March 2025. The undue delay in the appointment, despite calls by concerned stakeholders, including civil society and media, to expedite the appointment […]