GovPay extends services to Supreme Court

• Supreme Court launches online payments via GovPay in partnership with LankaPay
• SC Registrar Aravinda Gunaratne says digitising court fee payments and other legal transactions will enhance remote accessibility and transactional security
• Chief Justice Murdu Fernando stresses excessive paperwork and cash handling can be significantly reduced via this step
• Opines GovPay will aid the Govt. in its anti-corruption efforts
• LankaPay CEO Channa de Silva calls for more components of Govt. to consider GovPay as a means of supporting the Govt.’s digital economy ambitions

By Janani Kandaramage 

In a significant stride toward advancing the accessibility and transparency of Sri Lanka’s judiciary, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka yesterday officially unveiled GovPay – the nation’s digital payment gateway for government services – in collaboration with LankaPay.

Marking a transformative step in modernising the country’s legal infrastructure, this pioneering step aims to streamline court fee payments and other judicial transactions. 

The Government Digital Payment Platform (GDPP), branded as ‘GovPay,’ encompass establishing a centralised digital platform for citizens to make online payments for government services, enabling government organisations to collect revenue digitally in a secure, transparent, and efficient manner- supporting data-driven decision-making processes to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery.

Commending this initiative at a media briefing, Supreme Court Registrar Aravinda Gunaratne said: “Digitalisation of our court system is long overdue. It is necessary for the advancement of our legal system by providing a fully-fledged website that offers remote, hassle-free and secure access to litigants, lawyers, and other stakeholders.” 

He also added that the platform’s integration into the Supreme Court’s broader digitalisation efforts complements ongoing initiatives including the recent launch of the Court’s official website, which he stressed, “provides access to journal entries, orders, judgements, and case statuses.”

Reiterating the Registrar’s sentiments on a strengthened judiciary, the Supreme Court Chief Justice Murdu Fernando underscored the platform’s potential to eliminate archaic practices that proved bureaucratic in the past, noting the removal of excessive cash transactions, cumbersome paperwork, and long queues. 

“We have come a long way from filling multiple forms and standing in queues. With the press of a button, information is accessible and transactions are seamless, and it is important we exploit this advantage in every facet of society including the legal landscape,” she remarked.

Highlighting the platform’s potential to combat corruption, she expressed confidence in its effectiveness – noting that a transparent, accountable, and traceable means of transaction will strengthen the integrity of the legal institution while ensuring fairness and public trust. 

Outlining GovPay’s role in bridging the technological gap in state operations, LankaPay CEO Channa de Silva said the tool is essential for maximising revenue collection, minimising fraud via AI surveillance software, and fostering a more accountable and tamper-proof system. 

While the LankaPay CEO observed that Sri Lanka has made significant progress within the digital payment realm with the design of the Electronic Transactions Act (ETA) 2006 and the Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2005, he cited that Rs. 1.3 trillion of cash still remains in circulation across the economy – an indication of limited digital adoption by organisations.

Alluding this inadequacy to the continued reliance on cash-based processes by the majority of state departments, he called on the state to recognise the urgent necessity of GovPay as a tool for enhancing efficiency and public sector finance. 

“In the present, around 35 government departments are involved with this initiative. Our goal is to have a total of 50 State departments on board with us over this effort within a month,” he declared, acknowledging the system’s success in facilitating nearly Rs. 2 trillion worth of government revenue collection to the Inland Revenue Customs and other departments in 2024.

Discussing the future scope of GovPay, the Registrar opined: “This milestone move made by us will serve as a blueprint to all courts across the island because the ultimate goal must be enabling the judiciary to build a unified digitalised platform that can cater to the general public, addressing their needs for justice.”