More than 200,000 disputes pass through Sri Lanka’s Mediation Boards each year, easing pressure on a court system struggling with delays, Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara said on Friday.
The Minister was speaking at the 36th National Mediation Day celebration, held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo.
The two outlets that reported his remarks characterise the figure differently: Ada Derana reported that more than 200,000 cases are resolved annually through the boards, while Daily Mirror reported that more than 200,000 disputes are referred to them each year. Ministry Secretary Ayesha Jinasena, President’s Counsel, gave the more precise formulation — community mediation boards handle upwards of 200,000 disputes a year and resolve a significant proportion of them.
Rs. 800 million allocated
Nanayakkara said 2026 marks a significant year for mediation, with more than Rs. 800 million allocated to the Mediation Boards Commission through this year’s Budget. The funding will allow delayed training programmes to run, ensure mediators are appointed properly and on time, and strengthen community mediation boards operating at divisional secretariat level.
Special land dispute mediation boards were established across all 25 districts last year. Special financial dispute mediation boards have been introduced in a first phase covering Colombo, Gampaha, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kandy and Monaragala, intended to reduce the number of financial disputes reaching the courts.
The Minister said the aim was not only to relieve the judicial system but to give the public faster and fairer settlements. He thanked the more than 9,000 mediators who serve without payment, and the Mediation Boards Commission for coordinating 332 community mediation boards and 31 special mediation boards islandwide.
Digitisation under way
A Dispute Data Management System is being rolled out alongside the wider digitisation of the judiciary, Daily Mirror reported, with initial data from the special land mediation boards already integrated.
Jinasena said the Ministry plans to expand child-friendly mediation programmes, land boards and financial dispute boards nationwide. She added that Parliament has passed the Civil and Commercial Disputes Act, establishing a framework for commercial and business disputes in line with international standards.
The remarks come as the government advances a broader justice sector reform programme aimed at clearing case backlogs.
