The Hon. Harshana Nanayakkara, Attorney-at-Law - Minister of Justice and National Integration

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I table the answer to the question.

¶ 02 Answer tabled:

¶ 03 (a) (i) In line with the commitments under the Government’s policy statement “A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life,” the Ministry’s Action Plan includes the establishment of smart courts.

¶ 04 (ii) Under the EU-funded “Justice for All” programme’s Rapid Digital Strategy pilot, the Kandy and Negombo court complexes have been selected to be converted into smart courts.

¶ 05 (iii) Under the UNDP-supported Model Court Initiative: - Introduction of case management plans based on international best practices. - Pre-implementation case data analytics to assess case age and backlog. - Plans to reduce case backlogs and their implementation. - Introduction of time standards by case type as approved by judges. - Introduction of court calendars. - Strengthening of pre-trial conference processes. - Enabling electronic filing of bail applications.

¶ 06 Implementation includes: - Deployment of a Case Management System in selected courts, with modules for court-required reporting, causelists and other court document automation. - Capacity development programmes on case management and IT skills for judges, non-judicial court staff and lawyers. - Installation of information display boards to show daily cause lists in selected courts. - Amendments to criminal and civil procedural codes to enable remote testimony. - Provision, via development partners, of video technology equipment and digital infrastructure for remote testimony in selected courts, including to facilitate video-link appearances of remandees from prisons.

¶ 07 List of courts implementing Model Court Initiative activities includes: 1. Colombo High Court (3 benches) 2. Nugegoda District Court 3. Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court 4. Nugegoda Additional Magistrate’s Court 5. Nugegoda Additional District Court 6. Labour Tribunal No. 01 7. Commercial High Courts 1, 2, 3, 4 8. Moratuwa District Court 9. Moratuwa Magistrate’s Court 10. Colombo Magistrate’s Court 11. Negombo High Court 12. Kesbewa Magistrate’s Court 13. Kesbewa District Court 14. Panadura District Court 15. Panadura Magistrate’s Court 16. Panadura Additional Magistrate’s Court

¶ 08 - Provision by UNODC’s Global Maritime Crime Programme, as a pilot in the Southern Province, of audio-visual video technology kits for remote testimony; equipment also provided at the prison end to enable video-link appearances of remandees. Additional kits provided to selected courts with the highest remandee volumes.

¶ 09 - Going forward, with support from development partners, provision of audio-visual technology to all courts on a priority basis to enable online proceedings. - Installation of standardized audio-visual equipment for online hearings and training for judges, non-judicial court staff and lawyers.

¶ 10 These projects are implemented through development partners; no Government funds are used.

¶ 11 (b) Not applicable.

¶ 12 AGREEMENT BETWEEN SRI LANKA AND IMF: DETAILS

¶ 13 262/2024