Sri Lanka has taken a significant step in international legal cooperation by deciding to recognize, register, and enforce court judgments from 53 Commonwealth countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, India, and Canada, starting this week.
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has issued a gazette notification confirming that the effective date for the implementation of the Mutual Recognition, Registration and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act is March 26.
This legislation, passed in 2024, aims to streamline and facilitate the mutual recognition of judgments issued by foreign courts. It replaces previous legal provisions that had been in place for several decades.
The law was introduced following a landmark Court of Appeal ruling on a petition seeking to enforce a foreign divorce decree.
A senior official from the Ministry of Justice stated that the initial implementation includes Commonwealth countries. The list is expected to expand over time to include more countries after a review of their respective legal systems.
Among the countries covered in the initial phase of the gazette notification are Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Maldives, Cyprus, Kenya, Malaysia, South Africa, Singapore, and Zimbabwe.
This move is expected to strengthen Sri Lanka’s legal and diplomatic ties with other nations, providing greater legal clarity and reciprocity in cross-border civil matters.
