The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has taken a landmark step in judicial modernisation with the launch of its e-filing portal under the e-courts Project, marking a major milestone in the digital transformation of the country’s judiciary.

Officially opened to the public on 10 February 2026, the portal allows Attorneys-at-Law to file cases electronically. Since its launch, several cases have been successfully processed through the system, signalling growing acceptance among legal professionals, said a release issued by the Media Unit of the Supreme Court.

On Thursday (26), the Court conducted its first fully electronic, paperless proceeding in open court, handling SC Contempt 03/2026 entirely through the e-filing system. In this landmark case, all parties submitted documents, digitally, while the Registrar read, digitally signed, and uploaded the charge sheet in real time, making it immediately accessible to both Counsel for the Respondents and the Attorney General’s Department.

The case arose from non-compliance with a Supreme Court judgment delivered on 31st December 2024 concerning the leak of the Grade 5 Scholarship 2024 examination paper. One of the Respondents had been ordered to pay Rs. 3 million in compensation to the State but failed to comply, prompting contempt proceedings.

The session was presided over by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, alongside Justices Arjuna Obeyesekere and Dr. Sobitha Rajakaruna. The proceedings were attended by Registrar Manodhi Hewawasam, Deputy Registrars Abimani Seneviratne and Tharindu Weerasena, the Supreme Court IT team, and staff.

The e-Filing platform was developed with support from Uvindu Anuradha of SLT-Mobitel.

The initiative is expected to streamline court procedures, reduce reliance on physical documentation, cut costs, and promote sustainability, aligning Sri Lanka’s judiciary with global standards in digital court administration. Legal experts anticipate growing adoption of the system due to the cost savings on paper, printing, and other materials, while improving overall case management.

As the Supreme Court approaches its 225th anniversary, the e-Filing launch underscores its commitment to modernisation, efficiency, and forward-looking judicial services across Sri Lanka.

Andrey Rudenko, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka on Tuesday (31) to take part in the 11th round of bilateral political consultations between the two nations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the visit aimed to further strengthen longstanding diplomatic ties and broaden cooperation across multiple sectors.

A man and h is son allegedly linked to a drug trafficking network were arrested by the CID at the Bandaranaike International Airport, following their deportation from India, and handed over to the Western Province North Crimes Division on Saturday (28).

The arrests stem from an earlier detection on January 29, 2026, when a team of officers from the Western Province North Crimes Division apprehended a suspect in the Ganemulla Police area with 4.4 kilos of cocaine and 3,450 narcotic pills in her possession.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the suspect’s husband and son had aided and abetted the trafficking operation and had fled the country by sea to India.

The two suspects, aged 57 and 23, were later arrested by Indian security authorities, on Tuesday (24), while residing there illegally and were deported to Sri Lanka on Saturday (28).

Upon arrival at the airport, they were taken into custody by CID officers and subsequently handed over to the Western Province North Crimes Division for further investigations, which are continuing.

By Chaminda Silva