Sri Lanka's Cabinet has cleared an amendment to the Civil Procedure Code allowing courts to conduct witness testimony via audio-visual links from within or outside the country, extending a system previously used in criminal proceedings.
The Cabinet of Ministers has given approval to modify the Civil Procedure Code to permit courts to receive witness evidence through simultaneous audio-visual technology, regardless of whether the witness is located domestically or abroad. According to Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, this measure aims to accelerate civil litigation and bring Sri Lanka's judicial system into line with modern practices.
Under the proposed amendment, courts will have the authority to direct witnesses to testify remotely either at the request of the parties involved or on the court's own motion. The change represents an extension of technology-facilitated proceedings that have already been operational within the criminal justice system. Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara spearheaded the proposal, which the Cabinet has now endorsed.
Dr. Jayatissa clarified that the modification would be confined to enabling remote testimony and would not introduce broader changes to the Civil Procedure Code. The Legal Draftsman's Bill has already secured approval from the Attorney General and will proceed through standard legislative channels, including publication in the Government Gazette followed by parliamentary consideration.
The government has been simultaneously upgrading the technological infrastructure required to support remote proceedings. Equipment necessary for remote testimony has been gradually rolled out, having originally been introduced to protect child witnesses in criminal cases. According to Dr. Jayatissa, most courts nationwide are expected to receive the required technical systems by month's end. This initiative forms part of the government's comprehensive judicial reform strategy, which prioritises case backlog reduction, infrastructure enhancement, and technology-driven improvements to justice accessibility.