Sri Lanka’s newly appointed 49th Chief Justice, Preethi Padman Surasena, has pledged to accelerate the digital transformation of the country’s judicial system, describing it as vital to delivering efficient and modern justice.
In his first official address at a ceremonial sitting of the Supreme Court held to mark his formal assumption of office, Chief Justice Surasena stressed the urgent need for the judiciary to embrace technology in order to meet public expectations and align with international standards.
“I will fast-track the digitization of the Court system throughout the country. That is what the BASL wants; that is what the Minister wants; that is what the Government wants; that is what the litigants want. If you want different results, start making different choices,” he declared.
Chief Justice Surasena emphasized the judiciary’s responsibility to offer a high-quality service to the public, warning that delays in modernizing the system would impair the profession’s ability to serve justice efficiently. He said the legal community must uphold professional standards, as public trust in the system depends on it.
Calling for immediate and collective action, he noted that government funding and stakeholder support are already in place, but progress has been stalled due to lack of initiative.
The Chief Justice highlighted several benefits of automation, including increased efficiency, cost reduction for litigants, and improved time management.
Earlier in the ceremony, Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe (Jnr) PC and Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) President Rajeev Amarasuriya welcomed the new Chief Justice and commended his longstanding service to the judiciary.
