The Legal Aid Dialogue (LAD) marked a pivotal milestone in Sri Lanka’s justice reform journey. Convened over two days, the Dialogue gathered together senior representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Legal Aid Commission (LAC), Judiciary, Police, Prisons, Bar Association, civil society representatives, international development partners and experts, to reflect on reform priorities and operationalize the revised National Legal Aid Policy Framework 2025.

The Dialogue was not designed as a theoretical conference. It was a structured reform forum, focused on: examining system gaps, strengthening institutional coordination, aligning national practice with international standards, developing costed and measurable action plans; and building consensus toward a Colombo Declaration and Statement of Principles.