Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara announced that mediation boards across Sri Lanka handle more than 200,000 cases yearly, with significant budget allocation and expansion planned for 2026.
Sri Lanka's mediation system is handling a substantial portion of the country's dispute resolution through Mediation Boards, which resolve over 200,000 cases annually, according to Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara. The Minister made the statement during the National Mediation Day celebration held on 14th, highlighting the growing role of alternative dispute resolution in the country's justice framework.
The government has committed substantial resources to strengthen the mediation infrastructure. With over Rs. 800 million allocated through this year's Budget, authorities plan to implement delayed training programmes and ensure timely appointment of mediators. These measures are expected to enhance the efficiency and reach of the mediation system across the country.
Recent expansion efforts include establishing special mediation boards dedicated to land disputes across all 25 districts last year, addressing one of the most contentious areas of dispute in Sri Lanka. Additionally, specialized financial dispute mediation boards have been introduced, with initial operations beginning in Colombo, Gampaha, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kandy and Monaragala districts. These targeted boards aim to prevent financial disputes from overwhelming the formal court system.
The mediation framework operates through 332 Community Mediation Boards at the Divisional Secretariat level and 31 Special Mediation Boards nationwide, supported by over 9,000 volunteer mediators. According to the Justice Minister, this distributed approach provides the public with faster, fairer and more peaceful resolution of disputes while simultaneously reducing the caseload pressure on the formal judiciary.
