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Renovation efforts of the Supreme Court complex in Aluthkade, Colombo commenced on Monday with the participation of Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister Dr Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong. The Chinese Government will provide ¥ 240 million in financial and technical support for the renovation.
In a bid to enhance their diplomatic ties, the People’s Republic of China provided the Supreme Court complex to Sri Lanka as a Grant 30 years ago in 1988. Moreover, a 2016 agreement between the two governments paved the way for an extensive renovation of the Supreme Court complex.
The renovation project will span 32 months and will be carried out in two phases. During the first phase, the area housing the Court of Appeal will undergo renovation, followed by the second phase focusing on the part occupied by the Supreme Court. The entire renovation endeavour is scheduled to conclude on 17 October 2025.
On 21 December 2021, an agreement was signed between the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, the Ministry of Justice, and the China International Economic Cooperation Agency, pertaining to the renovation activities.
State Justice and Prison Affairs Minister Anuradha Jayaratne, Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, Supreme Court Justice Vijith Malalgoda, Court of Appeal President Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne, Court of Appeal Justice Sobhitha Rajakaruna and officials of the Ministry of Justice, Chinese Embassy and Supreme Courts complex also attended the event.