Opening of The Training and Development Center (TDC) at the Attorney General’s Department, the Launch of the E-Diary, File Management System Application and the Relaunch of the Department Website.
With support from the United States Embassy and the USAID CORE Justice Program, on 13th May 2021, the Attorney General’s Department inaugurated a state-of-the-art training center and launched an electronic system to track cases and legal files. These tools will strengthen the ability of justice sector professionals to uphold the rule of law in Sri Lanka.
The event was attended in person by Attorney General Dappula De Livera P.C., Supreme Court Judge Justice Yasantha Kodagoda P.C., Acting Solicitor General Sanjay Rajaratnam P.C., the Secretary of the Ministry of Justice M.M.P.K. Mayadunne, and virtually by Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Kelly and USAID Mission Director Reed Aeschliman.
The event featured the launch of the U.S.-supported training facility, electronic diary and file management system, and the Attorney General’s Department website.
As perfectly encapsulated by the Hon. Attorney General, the opening of the training center is a notable, salutary achievement that meets a long-felt need for continuous learning and professional development.
“Around the world, U.S. assistance has helped strengthen access to justice and promote good governance, which spurs economic growth and protects human dignity,” said U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Martin Kelly. “The tools inaugurated today will help make administration of justice more efficient.”
Assistance to the Government of Sri Lanka to strengthen the justice sector is one component of the longstanding partnership between the American and Sri Lankan people to support self-reliance and strengthen rule of law.
The Training and Development Center was constructed by rehabilitating and refurbishing the third floor of the Department’s 1998 building. The dedicated training facility includes a board room, auditorium, computer laboratory, and other facilities. It will serve as the training venue for training and related activities organised and implemented by the AG’s Department either solely or in collaboration with other entities, including CORE Justice.
The opening of the TDC was accompanied with the launch of an E-Diary and a File Management System Application. The electronic diary and file management system features a schedule of hearings, case assignments, and file tracking and storage to strengthen the security of the data and reduce delays caused by the current manual tracking system.The vision for this application was aided by the USAID CORE Justice Program, for the creation of a digitalized mechanism to create and use a database to management the files at the Department.
This opening was also complemented by the relaunch of the Attorney General’s Department website (http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.lk). The purpose of the relaunch of this website is to create awareness and make available to the public, information on the role of the Attorney General in Sri Lanka. It further provides necessary contact information for the purpose of making representations to the Attorney General’s Department with ease. The website also reflects the latest news and/or announcements with regard to the changes within the Department.
Proposing the Vote of Thanks, Acting Solicitor General Sanjay Rajaratnam P.C., deeply appreciated the assistance given by United States Embassy and USAID to construct the Training and Development Centre (TDC) and other projects of the department in the past. He noted that the TDC will assist the department greatly in training it’s officers and officers of other state institutions.
