Sri Lanka Hosts Legal Aid Dialogue to Enhance Access to Justice
The Legal Aid Dialogue 2026, held in Colombo on February 20-21, marked a significant step forward in strengthening access to justice and reimagining legal aid delivery in Sri Lanka. The event was convened by the Legal Aid Commission in collaboration with the Support to Justice Sector Project (JURE), funded by the European Union, in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF Sri Lanka.
Objectives of the Dialogue
The two-day event aimed to:
- Reflect on current legal aid services and identify areas for improvement.
- Innovate and collaborate across the justice sector to enhance service delivery.
- Develop a rights-based, inclusive, and modern legal aid system.
Key Participants
The Dialogue brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including:
- Experts from the Legal Aid Commission.
- Representatives from the Ministry of Justice.
- Members of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.
- Judiciary members.
- Academics from universities.
- Civil society organizations.
- Development partners.
Discussions and Outcomes
Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on:
- Policy reform to enhance legal aid services.
- Innovative service delivery models to reach underserved populations.
- Institutional coordination to streamline legal aid processes.
- Utilization of technology to expand legal aid coverage.
The Dialogue concluded with a redefined vision of legal aid as a human right and public good, along with a set of principles and time-bound next steps to guide policy development.
Implications for the Justice Sector
This initiative signifies a collective commitment to building a legal aid system that is accessible, effective, and firmly grounded in human rights principles. By leveraging new data and global best practices, Sri Lanka aims to transform its legal aid services to better respond to the needs of its people, contributing to a more equitable and resilient justice sector.
