Monday Aug 31, 2026
Monday Aug 31, 2026
Monday, 31 August 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved an amendment to the Civil Procedure Code to allow Courts to record witness testimony remotely from locations within Sri Lanka or overseas, in a move aimed at reducing delays and modernising civil litigation.
Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the amendment would empower Courts to direct witnesses to give evidence through simultaneous audio-visual links, either on the application of parties or on the court’s own initiative.
“The Cabinet has approved the amendment to empower the Court to direct persons to give evidence through simultaneous audio-visual link from any place within or outside Sri Lanka,” Dr. Jayatissa said at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing.
He said the mechanism had previously been introduced in criminal proceedings and was now being extended to civil cases to expedite the judicial process.
The proposed amendment follows increasing efforts to use technology to address case backlogs and improve access to justice. Under the new provision, witnesses who are unable or inconveniently placed to appear physically before court could provide evidence through an audio-visual connection, subject to the court’s direction.
The Legal Draftsman’s Bill has received clearance from the Attorney General and will next be published in the Government Gazette before being presented to Parliament for approval, following a proposal by Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara.
Dr. Jayatissa stressed that the amendment was narrowly focused on enabling remote testimony and would not otherwise alter the Civil Procedure Code.
“The Government has also been expanding the technological infrastructure required for remote proceedings. The system was initially introduced to facilitate testimony by child witnesses in criminal cases, while the necessary technical equipment is scheduled to be distributed to most Courts across the country by the end of this month,” he said.
The Cabinet Spokesman also said the move forms part of the Government’s wider judicial reform agenda, which has placed greater emphasis on reducing delays, improving Court infrastructure and using technology to make access to justice more efficient.
