As part of the island-wide programme to digitalise Sri Lanka’s court system under the “e-Courts” Project, implemented under the Judicial Service Commission, steps have been taken to introduce electronic filing systems suited to cases heard in all District Courts.
As part of this initiative, the Hon. Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena inspected this afternoon (23 September) the case-filing system introduced for the Small Claims Court of the Additional District Court, Colombo 07, where the electronic filing facility has been introduced for the first time.
Marking an important milestone in the digital transformation of Sri Lanka’s justice sector, the Judicial Service Commission has introduced an electronic case filing (e-Filing) facility at the Colombo District Court.
The island-wide programme to digitalise the court system, implemented under the “e-Courts” Project of the Judicial Service Commission, represents an important step towards transforming the traditional case-file-based judicial process into a modern, efficient system empowered by digital technology.
As one component of this initiative, the electronic filing system has been developed to accommodate all cases heard before District Courts. The facility has been introduced for the first time for Small Claims cases at the Colombo District Court. It is expected that the facility will be rapidly expanded in stages to other categories of cases and to courts located outside Colombo.
These digital systems have been developed under the direct guidance and supervision of the Hon. Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, while the technical development of the system has been carried out by Sri Lanka Telecom in collaboration with the Judicial Service Commission.
Marking the commencement of electronic filing for cases before the Colombo Small Claims Court, Senior Counsel Ms. Shirani Gunawardena submitted the first electronic case file to the Small Claims Court at the Colombo District Court.
Accordingly, all attorneys-at-law registered with the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka will be able to access their user accounts through the Colombo District Court website and make use of this facility.
The Colombo District Court website can be accessed through
https://colombo.districtcourt.lk
The new system enables attorneys-at-law and litigants to submit court documents electronically and provides a facility to file cases and related documents 24 hours a day. This will reduce the need to physically visit the court solely for the purpose of submitting documents.
The system is also expected to significantly reduce the use of paper and associated costs, minimise the physical space required for storing case records, and improve the efficiency and transparency of judicial proceedings, as well as the accessibility of information relating to cases.
As a further step towards the technological modernisation of judicial proceedings under the e-Courts Project, facilities for voice typing for recording court proceedings are also scheduled to be introduced shortly. A range of additional facilities, including the online issuance of certified copies of court proceedings, will also be made available through the websites established for individual courts.
Reflecting the commitment and support of the legal profession towards this programme, Senior Counsel have donated 15 computers to the Colombo District Court. This contribution further highlights the importance of the digitalisation programme and the benefits it is expected to provide to the legal profession and the general public in the future.
Under this digitalisation project, plans are in place to provide every court with a dedicated website through which information relating to cases heard at that particular court can be accessed, together with a case-file management system and electronic case-filing facilities, during the course of this year.
The Hon. Chief Justice joined a field inspection visit to the Colombo Small Claims Court today and observed the activities related to the implementation of the electronic case-filing facility.
The Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission, other officials, and Hon. Judges of the Colombo District Court also participated in the occasion.
The handing over of computers to support the electronic facilities of the Colombo Small Claims Court was also conducted under the patronage of the Hon. Chief Justice.
The following Senior Legal Counsel expressed their views regarding the island-wide programme to digitalise the court system:
- Senior Legal Counsel Ms. Shirani Gunawardena
- Senior Legal Counsel Ms. Anoma Gunathilaka
