Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court conducted a landmark paperless trial on March 26, marking a major step in the country’s judicial digitalisation.
The hearing, led by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena with judges Arjuna Obeyesekera and Sobitha Rajakaruna, involved a case of contempt of court. The respondent had failed to pay a government-ordered fine of Rs. 3 million related to the 2024 Grade 5 scholarship exam question paper leak.
For the first time, the court used a fully digital case file instead of traditional paper documents. The charge sheet was presented and digitally signed by the respondent in open court through the e-filing system. The next hearing is scheduled for May 14, 2026.
The digital trial is part of the Supreme Court’s “e-court” project, initiated by Chief Justice Surasena with support from Sri Lanka Telecom. The system allows lawyers to file cases electronically, reducing costs, saving foreign exchange spent on paper, and improving efficiency.
The Ministry of Justice and National Integration stated that the successful trial demonstrates the system’s potential and plans to expand it to all courts across the country. The e-filing system has been available to lawyers since February 10, 2026, and several cases have already been processed electronically. (NewsWire)