By Mewati Sitaram
A knowledge exchange and interaction programme for 10 Apex Court judges of Sri Lanka was organised by the Supreme Court of India and the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, from December 8 to 12, 2025. The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Chief Justice of Sri Lanka Justice Preethi Padman Surasena.
Following the visit, a de-briefing session was held at the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on December 18, where the participating judges shared their experiences and key learnings from the programme. The judges expressed their appreciation to the Government of India and the Indian judiciary for facilitating the initiative, in the presence of Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka H E Santosh Jha.
The programme was conducted in two phases, beginning with a three-day module at the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal, followed by a two-day engagement in New Delhi. During the Bhopal module, the Sri Lankan judges interacted with Indian judges, legal scholars and technical experts on subjects including constitutional interpretation, climate justice and environmental protection, use of new technologies in justice delivery, emerging trends in human rights and international legal obligations, and the role of media in shaping public perception of the judiciary.
In New Delhi, the delegation held interactions with Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant and other judges of the Supreme Court. The programme also included meetings with Attorney General for India R Venkataramani and Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, participation in court proceedings, a briefing on the Supreme Court’s e-initiatives and e-filing system, and a visit to the Delhi High Court.
The judicial exchange programme forms part of ongoing cooperation between India and Sri Lanka in the area of capacity development. This collaboration was further strengthened following the announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his state visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025, under which 700 additional customised training slots are to be offered annually to Sri Lankan professionals.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
