Sri Lanka’s First Multilingual Case Law Search: Now Search Judgments in Sinhala or Tamil
For years, one of the biggest limitations in Sri Lankan legal research has been language. Although almost all judgments are published only in English, many lawyers and law students think and search in Sinhala or Tamil. This often results in missed cases, incomplete research, and hours spent guessing English keywords or legal terminology.
Today, that challenge ends.
A Breakthrough in Sri Lankan Legal Research
For the first time in Sri Lanka, case law can now be searched using Sinhala or Tamil keywords, even though the judgments themselves are in English. This means you can type:
- ලියනගේ එදිරිව ගාල්ල මහ නගර සභාව
- තොරතුරු දැනගැනීමේ පනත 24 වගන්තිය
- ප්රකාශන හිමිකම චිත්රපට කර්මාන්තයේ නඩු
- ඇප පනත 14(1) වගන්තිය”
- சிவில் நடைமுறைச் சட்டம் பிரிவு 88 தீர்ப்பு
- இரட்டை ஆபத்து தீர்ப்பு
…and instantly retrieve the correct English judgments related to those terms.
This is a massive step forward for legal accessibility in Sri Lankan legal research.
Why This Matters for Lawyers and Law Students
1. Search in your own language
You no longer need to translate your thoughts into English legal terms. Simply search in Sinhala or Tamil – the system does the translation and legal interpretation for you.
2. Perfect for local case names
Many lawyers know cases by their Sinhala or Tamil names, not the English spellings used in law reports. Multilingual search ensures you still find the correct case.
3. Better access for students and rural practitioners
Not everyone is fluent in English legal terminology. Multilingual search levels the field, allowing anyone—anywhere—to research confidently.
4. Zero missed cases
Typing “Evidence Ordinance Section 24” and typing “තොරතුරු දැනගැනීමේ පනත 24 වගන්තිය” now yield the same complete set of results.
How the Technology Works
This advancement is powered by AI models trained specifically on Sri Lankan legal language patterns. The system understands:
- Sinhala and Tamil legal vocabulary
- Commonly used local case names
- Sinhala or Tamil versions of Act titles and sections
- Transliteration variations
- Legal concepts expressed in multiple languages
It then maps these to the correct English judgments.
You no longer need perfect spelling or perfect terminology—the AI understands what you mean.
AI Legal Chat in Sinhala and Tamil
In addition to multilingual search, the AI legal assistant can now understand and respond in Sinhala and Tamil, making it the first AI-powered legal chat in Sri Lanka with true trilingual capability.
What This Means for Users
- Easier understanding: AI explains complex English judgments in Sinhala or Tamil.
- Faster learning: Students no longer struggle with English legal vocabulary.
- Stronger access to justice: More citizens can understand legal concepts without language hurdles.
This brings legal information closer to the public and makes Sri Lankan law more accessible than ever before.
A new era in legal research in Sri Lanka
Multilingual search transforms Sri Lanka’s legal landscape by:
- Breaking decades-old language barriers
- Speeding up legal research
- Democratizing access to English case law
- Helping students understand the law faster
- Supporting practitioners across all provinces
This is more than a feature – it’s a step toward a more accessible and modern justice system.