May 17, LNW (Colombo): At the 52nd Annual Convocation of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka held at Waters Edge on 10 May 2026, Justice Yasantha Kodagoda called for urgent reforms to address delays in Sri Lanka’s justice system while stressing the importance of judicial independence and professional ethics. Delivering the keynote address, Justice Kodagoda praised the role of the BASL in safeguarding the Rule of Law and protecting the integrity of the legal profession.
Justice Kodagoda paid tribute to Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, describing him as a jurist of integrity and compassion whose judicial philosophy emphasized fairness and human dignity. He highlighted an incident during Justice Gavai’s tenure where he responded with empathy rather than punishment toward a lawyer involved in contemptuous conduct, calling it an example of humane justice.
The Supreme Court judge also commended Rajeev Amarasuriya for his leadership of the BASL and congratulated Nalin De Silva on his appointment as Secretary. He welcomed moves to establish a “Guild of President’s Counsel,” saying senior lawyers should serve as mentors and advisors to strengthen the profession.
Addressing challenges facing the judiciary, Justice Kodagoda warned that Sri Lanka’s courts are burdened with an estimated one million pending cases, causing severe delays in both civil and criminal matters. He described prolonged litigation as a “slow poison” eroding public confidence in the justice system and called for comprehensive reforms, improved infrastructure, and stronger cooperation among judges, lawyers, and policymakers to create a more efficient and accessible system of justice.