e-Filing Facility Introduced for Small Claims at Colombo District Court

Marking an important milestone in the digital transformation of Sri Lanka’s judicial sector, the Judicial Service Commission has officially introduced an electronic filing (e-Filing) facility for small claims at the Colombo District Court.

The programme, implemented under the “e-Courts” project of the Judicial Service Commission, aims to transform the traditional paper-based court filing process through modern and efficient digital technology.

The system has been developed under the direct guidance and supervision of Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, while the technical aspects of the system have been carried out by Sri Lanka Telecom.

First Electronic Case File Submitted

The first electronic case file relating to the Colombo Small Claims Court was submitted by Senior Counsel Attorney Gunawardena.

Accordingly, all attorneys-at-law registered with the Supreme Court will be able to access the facility by logging into their user accounts through the official website of the Colombo District Court.

Key Benefits and Facilities

24-hour service:
Attorneys and litigants will be able to electronically submit court documents and case files at any time of the day.

Reduced costs and storage requirements:
The need to physically visit the court will be reduced, while paper usage, associated costs and the physical space required to store case records will also be significantly reduced.

Efficiency and transparency:
Access to case-related information will be improved, while contributing to greater transparency in the judicial process.

Modern technology – Voice Typing:
Voice-typing facilities for recording court proceedings, as well as the ability to obtain certified copies of court proceedings online, are also scheduled to be introduced in the future.

Support from the Legal Community

The legal community has demonstrated strong commitment and support for the digitalisation programme. Senior Counsel attorneys have actively contributed to the initiative by donating 15 computers to the Colombo District Court.

Under the “e-Courts” project, plans are also in place to provide every court in the country with a dedicated website, a case-file management system and electronic filing facilities in the future.

The Chief Justice visited the Colombo Small Claims Court today to observe the implementation of the electronic filing process.

The Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission, District Court judges and a number of other officials were also present during the visit.