Politics · Sri Lanka Bureau
Sri Lankan judges ordered to work court holidays to clear case backlog
The Judicial Service Commission has directed judges and court officials to process accumulated cases even during court holidays, according to a notification issued to address the growing backlog of pending matters.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
The Judicial Service Commission has instructed members of the judiciary to undertake case clearance work during designated court holidays in an effort to reduce the substantial accumulation of pending cases across Sri Lankan courts.
Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission Prasanna Alwis issued the directive to judges and court officials, reflecting concerns about delays in case processing. The decision underscores the pressure facing the country's court system as it grapples with mounting backlogs of legal matters awaiting adjudication.
The move requires judicial officers to extend their working schedules beyond regular court days, effectively repurposing holiday periods for administrative and case management activities. Court holidays have traditionally been reserved as non-working days for judicial staff.
The directive addresses a longstanding challenge within Sri Lanka's legal system, where case backlogs have periodically hindered the timely delivery of justice. By mobilizing additional working days, the commission aims to accelerate the processing of accumulated case productions and move matters through the court system more expeditiously.
The initiative reflects broader efforts to improve court efficiency and reduce delays that have affected litigants and the administration of justice across the island.