Sri Lanka Business Leaders Commit to Commercial Mediation in Business Disputes

Colombo, August 4, 2026 – At an event hosted by The Asia Foundation in partnership with the International ADR Center (IADRC) Sri Lanka, 21 leading corporate stakeholders pledged their support for mediation as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism for business disputes. This comes on the heels of the passing of the Mediation (Civil and Commercial Disputes) Act No. 13 of 2026, a new legislation that offers alternatives to litigation through mediation.

Participating companies – including Hemas Holdings, Access Engineering, Jetwing Hotels/Travels, Akbar Brothers, and Brandix – expressed their willingness to incorporate mediation into the dispute resolution clauses in their corporate agreements. Representatives from the Singapore International Arbitration Centre and the Singapore International Mediation Centre also attended the event and shared relevant regional experience.

“Sri Lanka is at the formative stage that all countries have gone through when introducing mediation as a mainstream dispute resolution method,” said Dhara Wijayatilake, Secretary General of the IADRC. “There is a need to make stakeholders aware of what it is and what it offers. We at the IADRC will continue our commitment to improving Sri Lanka’s conflict resolution regime”

Commercial mediation offers business a less adversarial alternative to litigation, helping resolve disputes while preserving a conducive business environment. The Asia Foundation’s Commercial Mediation project aims to strengthen the environment for commercial mediation in Sri Lanka and contribute to greater business continuity, investor confidence, and economic stability.

Read Media Coverage of the event below: