Wednesday Jan 22, 2025
Wednesday Jan 22, 2025
Wednesday, 22 January 2025 00:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The International ADR Centre Sri Lanka (IADRC), will hold its annual Symposium on Mediation for Commercial Dispute Resolution on 29 January, 2025 at the Courtyard by Marriott.
While mediation has become popular globally as a meaningful dispute resolution method for the resolution of a variety y of categories of disputes, and several international bodies have adopted their own institutional rules and provide mediation services, the concept and process is, as yet, a novelty to the Sri Lankan private sector.
Aptly titled “Mediation – collaborating to resolve disputes” the symposium will discuss a variety of subjects that will explain how it differs from litigation and arbitration, the unique feature of its non-adversarial approach respecting party autonomy and the prospects it offers to reduce delay and expense and savings for the State.
Sri Lanka was the 14th country to ratify the UN Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation (NY, 2018) popularly known as the Singapore Convention on Mediation, and has enacted domestic legislation – the Recognition and Enforcement of International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation, Act No. 5 of 2024. The statute provides for a legal regime to enforce international mediated settlement agreements. This is an initiative that will contribute to improving Sri Lanka’s doing business profile and will be a boost to attract investment.
Symposium 2025 will demonstrate the unique features of the mediation process through role play and includes several interactive sessions that provide the space for participants to engage in seeking clarifications that will demystify the concept. Of particular value will be a session on the legal validity of a mediated settlement agreement to debunk the myth that such settlements are not valid or binding and a session on the value of efficient dispute resolution for economic development.
Symposium 2025 is conducted through The Support to Justice Sector Project (JURE), funded by the European Union, jointly implemented by the UNDP and UNICEF Sri Lanka and facilitated by the Ministry of Justice.
Those wishing to attend the Symposium, may do so via the IADRC website www.iadrc.lk. Early registration is advised since accommodation is limited.
